RUN FOR OFFICE
Prepare Now 2024-2026
Governor- 2026
The Governor of California serves as the leader of the executive branch, thus holding the highest office in the state. The Governor’s primary responsibilities involve signing, or vetoing bills from the state legislature and serving as the commander-in-chief of the state military. This position also allows for the use of a line-item veto for bills that relate to appropriations. A line-item veto is also referred to as a partial veto, and pronounces the ability of the Governor (in specific appropriation situations) to reverse or cancel specific provisions of a bill without needing to veto the entire legislative proposal. The Governor also has the power to grant pardons and commute sentences, as long as the circumstances do not involve impeachment. The Governor also serves as the president of the Board of Regents of the University of California (the governing board of the University of California system) in addition to a similar position for the state university system. It should be noted that the Governor and Lieutenant Governor do not run together, they are elected separately. The Governor serves a four-year term with a limit of two consecutive terms, and the salary of this position is estimated at $173,987 per year.
State Senate-2024
The California State senate is the upper house of the bicameral California State legislature. The senate comprises of 40 senators, each of whom represent one district, with an average representative-to-constituent ratio of 1: 931,000 people, which renders California Senators as representatives with the most constituents of anywhere in the US. The senate is led by the Lieutenant Governor, with a majority party elected pro tem president. The senate has 23 standing committees, which span from agriculture, to human services, to veteran affairs. Primary responsibilities of a senator include: developing budget packages, making taxation decisions, passing legislation, allocating spending, and redistricting in collaboration with other senators and the house of representatives. Additionally, the senate has the exclusive authority to try officials impeached by the house in addition to authorizing certain executive appointments. Each senator serves a four-year term (elections amongst senators are staggered), with a 12 year service limit, if elected after after 2012. The estimated salary of this position is $116,208 per year.
Lieutenant Governor-2026
The Liutenant Governor serves as acting Governor in the absence of the Governor, and also serves as the President of the California State Senate. The Lieutenant Governor sits on several prominent boards and also has the power to make appointments to many of those boards.
Secretary of State-2026
The California Secretary of State serves as a state executive officer, which entails acting as the chief election officer in addition to maintaining the state constitution and archives. There are five divisions that comprise the office of the secretary: Elections and Voter Information, Campaign and Lobbying Information, California Business Portal, Archives, and the California Museum. Other duties include commissioning notaries public, serving as trustee for the California Museum of History, Women & the Arts, and maintaining public business filings. Recent undertakings of this office include increasing voter registration and participation for California citizens. The secretary of state serves a four-year term, with a limit of two terms and the salary of this position is $130,490 per year.
Superintendent of Public Instruction-2026
The California Superintendent of Public Instruction is the nonpartisan executive officer of the California Department of Education. The superintendent is charged with serving as the chief spokesperson for California public schools, in addition to executing education policy decisions, maintaining school property, licensing teachers, and fulfilling various administrative duties. The superintendent oversees five divisions within the Department of Education, and an annual budget of almost $57 billion. The superintendent serves a four-year term, with a limit of two terms, and the salary of this position is $151,127 per year.
State Treasurer-2026
The California treasurer is the executive in charge of the state’s investment and finance. The treasurer is charged with issuing bonds and notes for the state, and acting as the trustee, registrar, and paying agent for all state transactions. Other duties include serving as the chair of several commissions, particularly those that pertain to bonds, and managing state pension funds. The treasurer serves a four-year term with a limit of two terms, and the salary of this position is $139,189 per year.
State Assembly-2024
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral California State legislature. The assembly is comprised of 80 members, each of whom represent at least 465,000 constituents within their respective districts. The state assembly has 30 standing committees ranging from appropriations, to higher education, to transportation. Primary responsibilities of an assembly member include: developing budget packages, making taxation decisions, passing legislation, allocating spending, and redistricting in collaboration with other house members and the state senate. Additionally, the house has the exclusive authority to impeach state officials, who will then be tried by the senate. Each assembly member serves a two-year term, with a six term limit, if elected after 2012. The salary of this position is $95,291 per year, plus a per diem of $138 per day for every day in session.
Insurance Commissioner-2026
The insurance commissioner of California serves as the chief executive of the California Department of insurance. Primary responsibilities of this position include, oversight of all divisions within the Department of insurance, regulation of insurance companies, enforcement of California insurance Code, and providing transparency to the public on issues regarding the insurance industry. The insurance commissioner serves a four-year term, with a limit of two terms. The salary of this position is $139,189 per year.
Attorney General-2026
The California Attorney General serves as the chief legal executive, heading the California Department Of Justice. Primary responsibilities of this position include, enforcing state laws, prosecution of individuals and agencies when violations have occurred, and providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers upon request. This position also entails public policy activism in the area of protecting Californians from illegal activities that threaten public safety. The Attorney General serves a four-year term with a limit of two terms and the salary of this position is $151,127 per year.
State Controller-2026
The California State controller serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California. The controller is charged with tracking all state spending from the treasury in addition to updating the public on the state's current financial standing. The controller oversees six divisions: Accounting and Reporting, Administration and Disbursements, Audits, Information Systems, Personnel/Payroll, and Unclaimed Property. Primary responsibilities of this position include: administering the state payroll system, serving on various boards and commissions, conducting audits and reviews of state operations, and acting as the chief bookkeeper for the state. This position also grants the controller with investigative access to all state spending, thus placing the controller as an ex-officio member of the state Board of Equalization. It should be noted that this position is not the same as California State treasurer, which holds less authority than the controller. The controller serves a four-year term with a limit of two terms and the salary of this position is $139,189 per year.
County Districts-Ongoing
There are 58 counties in the State of California. Each county has elected positions. You can find all the counties and their elected positions when you click the tab below. If you are not ready to run for a state position, please consider making a difference in your local county or city.