The League of Women Voters of California analyzes all statewide ballot measures and makes recommendations for voters. We call this ""note with the League.""

June 2, 2026: Statewide Direct Primary Election

The LWV of California Board reviewed two propositions that are qualified for the ballot. The LWVC cosponsored both of these in the legislature. The Board agreed to support both of them.

1. SCA 1  Elections: recall of state officers

This measure, sponsored by the LWVC and Common Cause, would change the recall process for the Governor and statewide officeholders. 

Instead of the current system of asking voters if they wish to recall and, on the same ballot, asking voters to pick a new officer holder, under this proposition, voters would first decide by majority vote whether to recall the official. Only after a successful recall vote would there be a separate election to replace the office holder by a majority vote. In the event of a successful recall of a state officer, one of these things would occur:

• If the Governor were recalled, the Lieutenant Governor would temporarily succeed the Governor, which aligns with the Lieutenant Governor's duties in other contexts. 

  • If the recall occurs in the first two years of the Governor's term, the special replacement election would be consolidated with the next statewide primary election and subsequent statewide general election. 

  • If the recall is successful in the last two years of the Governor's term, the Lieutenant Governor would serve as Governor for the remainder of the recalled Governor's term. 

• For other statewide officers (Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, or member of the Board of Equalization), there would be no replacement election. The Governor would appoint a replacement for the remainder of their term.

2. SB 42 Political Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026 

The LWVC, Common Cause, and Clean Money California sponsor the bill that created this proposition. 

The measure gives voters the choice to repeal California's decades-old ban on public financing of election campaigns while putting clear guardrails in place to protect taxpayers and ensure fairness.

The measure would restore the authority of state and local governments to establish such public campaign finance programs if they choose to do so voluntarily. It sets baseline rules requiring participating candidates to qualify through small-dollar community support, accept strict spending limits, and use funds only for legitimate campaign purposes, while prohibiting the use of public money earmarked for education, transportation, or public safety and banning payments for personal legal defense or loan repayment.

Public funds earmarked for any state or local entity for the use of education, transportation, or public safety are excluded from use in campaign funding.