Welcome to the portal for Ballotpedia's coverage of California politics! Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage of California politics includes information on the local, state and federal levels, as well as state policies.

Bordering the Pacific Ocean,Oregon,Nevada,Arizona and Mexico, California is located on the West Coast of the United States. The state's capital isSacramento.

California is governed as a republic, with three branches of government — the executive branch consisting of thegovernor and other independently elected constitutional officers, the legislative branch consisting of theState Assembly andState Senate, and the judicial branch consisting of theSupreme Court of California and lower courts. California has two members of theU.S. Senate and a total of 52 members of theU.S. House of Representatives. There are 40 members of the State Senate and 80 members of the State Assembly.

State Leadership

Governor

Gavin Newsom

Capital:

Sacramento

Motto:

Eureka

Translation:

I have found it

Population:

39,576,757

Land Area of State:

155,857 square miles

Admitted to U.S.:

1850

California Elections

California 2026 elections: U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State Assembly • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • Candidate ballot access

California elections, 2027
Past elections:2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014

Voting in California

Ballotpedia

Federal politics

California state politics

Local politics in California

Cities and counties in California

Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage in the100 largest U.S. cities by population and also covers mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections in every state capital. Additionally, Ballotpedia covers school board elections in the200 largest U.S. school districts by enrollment.