Over the next few weeks, voters here in Riverside, including students, staff and faculty, will receive their primary election ballots to pick the candidate they want to advance to the general election on Nov. 3.
However, what races are up for voting in the upcoming primary? Here are a few of them that will be featured on the June 2nd ballot. This article will discuss these races and provide information on their respective candidates.
This article will cover the statewide elections, such as Governor, Lt. Governor and Insurance Commissioner, to name a few. If you would like to see coverage of the election, you may find it here.
It is worth mentioning that since the passage of Prop 14, formally known as the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, in Nov. 2010, the state has used a jungle primary system. This means that the two candidates who place the highest in the primary election on June 2, regardless of party, will progress on to the general election.
To register to vote or check your voter registration status, you may do so at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters website at https://voteinfo.net/
Governor of California:
Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom, 58, will be term-limited and thus will not be able to seek a third term.
In total, there are 61 candidates having registered with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to run for Governor of California, with the front-runners being political commentator Steve Hilton, 56 (R), former Sec. of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, 68 (D), billionaire Tom Steyer, 68 (D), county sheriff Chad Bianco, 59 (R) and businessman Leo Zacky, 34 (R).
Neither the California Republican Party nor the California Democratic Party chose to endorse a candidate for Governor, marking the first time in the state’s history that both major parties had chosen to not endorse a candidate for Governor.
Lt. Governor of California:
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounlakis will be term-limited and thus will not be able to seek a third term.
In total, there are 16 candidates having registered with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to run for Lt. Governor of California, with some of the notable names being nurse Ebie Lynch (R), Incumbent State Treasurer Fiona Ma, 60 (D), Former State Senator Gloria Romero, 70 (R), former mayor of Novato Josh Fryday, 45 (D) and Farmer/Businessowner David Collenberg, 44 (R).
Romero was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while the California Democratic Party was not able to come to a consensus on an endorsed candidate.
Secretary of State of California:
Incumbent Sec. of State Shirley Weber, 77 (D) will be seeking her second full term in the 2026 election. She is running against Don Wagner, 65 (R), the supervisor for the 3rd District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Gary N. Blenner (Green), a teacher and Michael Feinstein (Green) a Electoral Reform Consultant.
Weber has been Sec. of State since Jan. 19, 2021 after then-Sec. of State Alex Padilla resigned on Jan. 18, 2021 to be sworn in as the Junior (now Senior) U.S. Senator to succeed then-Sen. Kamala Harris after she resigned two days before being sworn in as the 49th Vice President on Jan. 20, 2021.
Wagner was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while Weber was endorsed by the California Democratic Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on Feb. 26.
Attorney General of California:
Incumbent Attorney General Rob Bonta, 54, is seeking his second full term as Attorney General of California. He is running against Deputy United States Attorney Michael E. Gates, 51 (R) and Attorney/Justice Advocate Marjorkie Mikels (Green).
Bonta has been Attorney General since April 23, 2021, being appointed by Gov. Newsom to replace outgoing Attr. Gnrl. Xavier Becerra who resigned a month prior on March 18, 2021 to be sworn in as Sec. of Health and Human Services under Pres. Biden the next day on March 19.
Gates was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while Bonta was endorsed by the California Democratic Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on Feb. 26.
California State Treasurer:
Incumbent State Treasurer Fiona Ma, 60 (D) is term-limited and is unable to seek re-election.
There are six candidates running to succeed Ma, those being Businessman, Author and Marine Corps Veteran David Serpa, 41 (R), Incumbent Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, 60 (D), State Board of Equalization member Tony Vasquez, 70 (D), Retired Businesswoman Jenniffer Hawks, 53 (R) and Glenn Turner (Green)
Viewpoints previously held coverage on Serpa when he ran for Congress in 2024, back in the primary season in February 2024 and during the general election in November 2024.
Hawks was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while the California Democratic Party was not able to come to a consensus on an endorsed candidate.
California State Controller:
Incumbent State Controller Malia Cohen, 48 (D) is seeking her second term as State Controller. She won in 2022 with 55.3% of the vote against Lanhee Chen (R).
Cohen is running in the primary against Herb Morgan, 60 (R), retired Chief Investment Officer for Cantor Fitzgerald and Meghann Adams, 42 (Peace and Freedom), a school bus driver.
Morgan was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while the California Democratic Party was not able to come to a consensus on an endorsed candidate.
Insurance Commissioner of California:
Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Richard Lara, 51 is term-limited in his role as Insurance Commissioner, thus California will be selecting the two candidates they would see be elected to succeed Lara.
There are eleven candidates running to succeed Lara, with the front-runners being licensed insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden, 62 (R) and former state senator Steven Bradford, 66 (D).
Korsgaden was endorsed by the California Republican Party on the last day of their 2026 Statewide Convention on April 12, while the California Democratic Party was not able to come to a consensus on an endorsed candidate.
