California voters will cast ballots in races for president, US Senate and the state’s 52 US House seats. In the race for Senate, Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey are vying for the state’s open Senate seat following the death of Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2023. Five of the House races in California are considered “Toss Ups,” according to ratings from the Cook Political Report, and another five could be competitive.
Voters will also decide on several key ballot measures: three concern bond issuances, two address the cost of living, and one would allow for tougher penalties on some theft and drug crimes.
Issue $10 billion in bonds for safe drinking water, flood mitigation, wildfire prevention and response to the effects of climate change
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Allow state to issue these environmental bonds
Yes
0
0%
Do not authorize these bonds
No
0
0%
California: Proposition 5
Lower threshold for approving local special taxes and housing/infrastructure bonds
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Make it easier to approve some taxes and bonds
Yes
0
0%
Keep current thresholds
No
0
0%
California: Proposition 2
Issue $10 billion in bonds for constructing and modernizing public schools and community colleges
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Allow state to issue these education bonds
Yes
0
0%
Do not authorize these bonds
No
0
0%
California: Proposition 32
Increase current $16 minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2026, then by up to 3.5% yearly based on inflation beginning in 2027
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Raise minimum wage and implement future inflation-based increases
Yes
0
0%
Maintain current $16 minimum wage, base next inflation adjustment on this rate
No
0
0%
California: Proposition 33
Allow local governments to enact broader rent control measures
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Remove state limits on local rent control policies
Yes
0
0%
Keep current limits on cities and counties
No
0
0%
California: Proposition 36
Allow for tougher penalties for certain theft and drug crimes, offer treatment programs for some drug offenders
CANDIDATE
VOTES
PCT
Reclassify some retail theft and drug trafficking misdemeanors as felonies, offer treatment to avoid prison
Yes
0
0%
Maintain current criminal punishments, do not offer treatment programs as a prison alternative
No
0
0%
About This State
California average
US average
Major Occupations
Race and Ethnicity
Educational Attainment
Sources: American Automobile Association, US Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Note: Race and ethnicity shares are based on the Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP) from the Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, 2018-2022. Median household incomes are based on inflation-adjusted data from January to December 2023; educational attainment shares are for the population 25 years and over, both based on the 2023 Census ACS 1-year estimates. Regional price parity for housing is calculated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and represents how much more (above 100) or less (less than 100) expensive housing rent expenditures are in a state compared to the national average in 2022, the latest available year. The three largest occupations per state are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics release of Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics in 2023, the latest available data.