Other statewide races on your ballot.
These offices don't get the press attention of Governor or Attorney General, but you're still voting on them. Most of the candidates have limited public differentiation and don't fit the policy-quiz format — so this page is a straight comparison: candidates, backgrounds, key endorsements, and the practical question each office actually decides.
Why this isn't a quiz: For most of these races, candidates within the same party agree on 90%+ of policy and differ mostly on personality and endorsements. A quiz format would force fake distinctions. What you actually need is who's running, what their background is, and who's backing them. That's what this page does.
Lieutenant Governor
What this office does: Acting Governor when the Governor is out of state. UC and CSU board member. Otherwise largely ceremonial — CalMatters literally called it "a job about nothing."
The race in one sentence: Kounalakis is termed out; Fiona Ma (Treasurer) is the front-runner with the deepest political résumé; Fryday (Newsom's volunteer-office chief) has CTA backing; Romero is the only Republican of note (former Democrat-turned-GOP); Tubbs and Kellman round out the Democratic field.
Fiona Ma D
Background
Current CA State Treasurer (2019–present). Former CA State Board of Equalization member; former San Francisco Supervisor.
Key endorsements
CA Democratic Party establishment, financial sector unions.
Position
Deepest political résumé in the field; front-runner.
Josh Fryday D
Background
Chief Service Officer in Gov. Newsom's office (2019–present), heading the state's volunteer program. Former Naval officer.
Key endorsements
California Teachers Association.
Michael Tubbs D
Background
Former Mayor of Stockton (2017–2020) — youngest mayor of a major U.S. city when elected at 26. Lost reelection in 2020. Newsom adviser for economic mobility since.
Key endorsements
Progressive economic-mobility advocates.
Janelle Kellman D
Background
Attorney; former Mayor of Sausalito. Would be CA's first openly gay Lt. Governor.
Gloria Romero R
Background
Former CA Senate Majority Leader (2005–2008, first woman in role). Served nearly 12 years as a Democrat in the Legislature. Switched to Republican Party in 2024.
Position
Only major Republican in the race; expected to make the November runoff with Ma based on partisan splits.
Bottom line: If you're a Democrat, your choice is mostly between Ma (the establishment résumé) and Fryday (the Newsom/teacher-backed insider). If you lean Republican or independent, Romero is the only realistic option among the named field.
State Controller
What this office does: Chief fiscal officer. Audits all state spending. Sits on dozens of boards (CalPERS, CalSTRS). Real teeth on transparency and accountability.
The race: Incumbent Cohen (D, since 2023) facing minor challengers. Most likely incumbent reelection.
Malia Cohen D
Background
Incumbent State Controller (2023–present). Former Chair of CA State Board of Equalization. Former San Francisco Supervisor.
Record
Has audited multiple state programs; focused on transparency dashboards.
Endorsements
CA Democratic Party.
Herb Morgan R
Background
Republican challenger.
Position
Limited public campaign material.
Meghann Adams PF
Background
School bus driver and union president. Peace and Freedom Party candidate.
Platform
Expose corporate landlords driving up rent; analyze single-payer Medi-Cal cost; divest state from companies supporting Israel's war in Gaza.
State Treasurer
What this office does: Manages CA's investments and bond sales. Manages the $300B+ state portfolio. Sits on housing finance and infrastructure boards.
The race: Open seat (Fiona Ma termed out, running for Lt. Governor). Three Democratic candidates including current Lt. Governor Kounalakis.
Eleni Kounalakis D
Background
Current Lt. Governor (2019–present, termed out). Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (Obama). Real estate developer background.
Position
Most-recognized name in the race; expected front-runner.
Anna Caballero D
Background
CA State Senator (D-Salinas). Former Assemblymember.
Tony Vazquez D
Background
Member of the CA State Board of Equalization (D-Los Angeles).
Insurance Commissioner
What this office does: Regulates CA's insurance industry — including the wildfire-insurance crisis. Massive real-world impact on premiums and coverage availability. Real power.
The race: Open seat (Ricardo Lara termed out). Five candidates in serious contention; the wildfire-insurance crisis dominates.
Ben Allen D
Background
CA State Senator (D-Santa Monica). Known for environmental and budget work in the Senate.
Steven Bradford D
Background
Former CA State Senator (D-Inglewood, 2016–2024). Background in utility-sector advocacy.
Jane Kim D
Background
Former San Francisco Supervisor; progressive Democrat.
Stacy Korsgaden R
Background
Insurance industry professional. Only Republican of note.
Patrick Wolff D
Background
Democratic candidate; limited public profile.
Bottom line: If wildfire insurance and homeowner premiums are your top concern, this is one of the most consequential downballot races. Allen, Bradford, and Kim split the Democratic vote; Korsgaden is the likely R runoff candidate.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
What this office does: Runs the CA Department of Education. Oversees K-12 standards, testing, charter school authorization. Real power over the state's 5.8M students.
The race: Open seat (Tony Thurmond running for Governor). Crowded field of 8 candidates with limited public differentiation. CalMatters: "charter schools have been notably absent" as a campaign issue. Full DecideCA quiz coming in a future update once differentiation becomes clearer.
Richard Barrera D
Background
President of the San Diego Unified School Board. Senior Advisor to Thurmond.
Key endorsements
California Teachers Association (CTA) — 300,000+ educators — AND California Charter Schools Association Advocates. Unusual cross-cutting consensus support.
Focus
Boosting school funding, early childhood education, easing path to becoming a teacher.
Nichelle Henderson D
Background
LA Community College District trustee. Longtime classroom teacher.
Focus
Expanded health access in schools, standardized testing reform.
Frank Lara D
Background
Educator and progressive candidate.
Jeff Maffly D
Background
Candidate with limited public coverage.
Notable: Andra Hoffman (LACCD president) dropped out. Anthony Rendon, Al Muratsuchi, and Josh Newman were also listed as potential candidates but coverage of their final platforms is limited. With 32% of voters undecided just weeks before the primary, this race may turn on name recognition.
Board of Equalization, District 3
What this office does: The BoE is California's tax-dispute board. It hears appeals on property and business tax assessments. After Prop 26 (2010), most of its powers were transferred to the Franchise Tax Board and CDTFA — it's now a relatively narrow regulatory body. District 3 covers parts of Los Angeles County.
The race: Extremely low-profile. Candidates have minimal public differentiation and limited media coverage.
For this race, I'd recommend voting based on (a) your party preference, (b) any endorsement you trust from a local source you follow, or (c) reading the official Voter Information Guide candidate statements at voterguide.sos.ca.gov. The substantive policy differences between candidates here are thin enough that any "quiz" would be inventing distinctions.