Q: Who's on the ballot?

The Secretary of State's certified candidate list shows Democrat Fiona Ma, listed as State Treasurer/CPA, against Republican Gloria Romero, listed as Educator/Businesswoman.

Q: What does a lieutenant governor do?

The lieutenant governor is first in line to succeed the governor, presides over the state Senate and can cast a tie-breaking vote there, and sits on the boards that govern the University of California and California State University, according to CalMatters. The state voter guide also lists chairing the Commission for Economic Development and seats on the State Lands Commission and the Ocean Protection Council. CalMatters puts the office's budget at nearly $3 million.

Q: Who is Fiona Ma?

Ma has been state treasurer since 2019. Before that she served on the Board of Equalization from 2014 to 2018, served four terms in the Assembly and was a San Francisco supervisor, CalMatters reports. In her ballot statement she says she has been a CPA since 1992 and that as treasurer she financed record amounts of affordable housing, and she says she would work to make higher education more affordable. CalMatters lists endorsements from the California Labor Federation, the State Building and Construction Trades Council and AFSCME.

Q: Who is Gloria Romero?

Romero served nearly 12 years as a Democrat in the Legislature and was Senate majority leader from 2005 to 2008, the first woman to hold that post, according to CalMatters. She became a Republican in 2024, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton asked her to run as part of his ticket. Her ballot statement emphasizes school choice, what she calls reforming California, defending Title IX in girls' sports and fighting antisemitism.

Q: Do the governor and lieutenant governor run together?

No. In California they are elected separately, so voters can split their choices. The governor's race is Democrat Xavier Becerra against Hilton.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.