NOV. 6th ELECTION BALLOT GUIDE

Elections can be hard to follow.

There are candidates we may not know and issues we may not fully understand. It can be tough to stay on top of it all. We totally get that! That’s why we’ve created this simple 2018 Ballot Guide to help you know and understand what’s on the ballot this November.

The STATEWIDE CANDIDATE section includes the candidates & duties of the offices for which they are running. The BALLOT PROPOSITION section gives a description of each initiative. CLICK the icons to get more information on how each proposition will impact our state & local communities.

This election may be one of the most critical ones of our lifetime. Our votes matter more than ever. We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. Please read and share this guide with your friends and family. Make sure all of us are #ReadyToVote on November 6.

STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

Featured

GOVERNOR

Candidates

Gavin Newsom, Democratic

John H. Cox, Republican

The Governor is the state’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They appoint judges to state courts, approve or reject the laws that govern our communities, and make budget recommendations to the legislature on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Candidates

Eleni Kounalakis, Democratic

Ed Hernandez, Democratic

The Lieutenant Governor serves on the boards responsible for regulating California colleges and universities and for creating jobs and economic opportunities throughout the state. They also can step in to assume the duties of Governor in the case the Governor is unable to fulfill duties.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Candidates

Mark P. Meuser, Republican

Alex Padilla, Democratic

The Secretary of State manages all federal and state elections - including California’s database of registered voters.

CONTROLLER

Candidates

Betty T. Yee, Democratic

Konstantinos Roditis, Republican

The State Controller makes sure all the state’s bills are paid — including paychecks for all government and California State University employees. They’re also responsible for monitoring and reporting how state agencies spend taxpayer dollars.

TREASURER

Candidates

Fiona Ma, Democrat

Greg Conlon, Republican

The State Treasurer manages the dollars that fund our schools, parks, highways and streets. They also handle the funds used by local governments to pay for programs and services offered in our communities.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Candidates

Xavier Becerra, Democrat

Steven C. Bailey, Republican

The Attorney General supervises all district/city attorneys and law enforcement officers working in our local communities. They also are responsible for investigating discrimination claims, consumer complaints against businesses, and protecting the environment and public health in California.

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Candidates

Steve Poizner, no party preference

Ricardo Lara, Democratic

Insurance commissioners regulate insurers who sell policies protecting our home, health and autos. They’re also in charge of approving all insurance rate increases and investigating customer complaints filed against companies doing business in our state.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Candidates

Tony Thurmond

Marshall Tuck

The Superintendent of Public Instruction manages all 1,026 school districts operating in our state. They handle the funds that pay for teachers, administrators and programs in local school - and also work with school officials to monitor and improve academic performance.

BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Candidates

District 1

Ted Gaines, Republican

Tom Hallinan, Democratic

District 2

Malia Cohen, Democratic

Mark Burns, Republican

District 3

Tony Vazquez, Democratic

G. Rick Marshall, Republican

Board of Equalization representatives collect sales, fuel, tobacco taxes and other fees that provide funding for programs and services in our communities.