The California governor election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The primary election to select major party nominees is set for June 2, 2026, with various deadlines surrounding candidacy filings and ballot access. Key dates and deadlines to know
- Primary election: June 2, 2026
- Last day to register to vote for the primary: May 18, 2026
- Ballots mailed to voters: starting around May 4, 2026
- Ballot drop-off and in-person voting windows: May 5, 2026 (drop-off) and May 23, 2026 onward for early voting in eligible counties
- Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or received within a specified window after Election Day (varies by county)
Context
- The incumbent governor as of the last reported information (Gavin Newsom) is term-limited and cannot run for a third term, making the race open to new candidates.
- California uses a top-two primary system, where all candidates appear on the same ballot in the primary, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.
- Official deadlines and procedures are managed by the California Secretary of State and county elections offices, with guidance and calendars published on their websites.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official calendars or summarize candidate filing windows for your specific county.
