California sample ballot: Issues and candidates you can vote for by county on November 5th.

November is shaping up to be a defining month for California voters as they head to the polls to decide state and local races. including key proposals on issues from water conservation to raising the minimum wage to criminal justice reform. This is a completed ballot, but since each California county has its own set of candidates and measures, here’s a closer look at what to expect in the Golden State Election day will come on November 5th.

US Senate: Key seat up for grabs

California voters face two Senate races. The first partial term race will determine who serves the remainder of the late Dianne Feinstein’s term.. The other full-term race will choose a senator to represent California in Washington for the next six years, starting in 2025. Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey, former MLB star, face off in both races after competitive primaries. This Senate seat could affect the national balance of power as the composition of the Senate hangs in the balance.

Key house races

Several congressional districts are watching intense racing in California, incumbents defend their seats and challengers bring fresh perspectives.

District 1: Republican incumbent Doug LaMalfa faces Democratic challenger Rose Yee. LaMalfa is known for his conservative stance, and Yee has an active history in the Philippines.
District 3: Republican Kevin Kiely and Democrat Jessica Morse are facing each other again after Kiely defeated her in the previous election. Keeley, known for his efforts to recall Gov. Newsom, is a Trump supporter, and Morse has national security experience.
District 9: Incumbent Democrat Josh Harder will face Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln. This Central Valley region has seen increased political competition in recent years as local issues such as water access and agricultural policy remain at the forefront.

State Assembly race in District 6

Ten candidates are vying for this seat. The State Assembly race in District 6 has become one of the most crowded contests in California.. Democrat Maggie Krell and Republican Nikki Ellis emerged as the front-runners after the primaries. Krell, a deputy attorney general, has made a name for herself with its propaganda against human trafficking, while Ellis, a longtime community member, mobilizes support on issues critical to small businesses and local control.

Proposals on the ballot: What’s at stake

Voters will have the right to vote 10 national proposals, each of which addresses key policy issues:

Suggestion 2: Requests $10 billion in loans to modernize public schools and improve community colleges. Supporters argue it is important for modernizing California’s education infrastructure, while opponents are concerned about the potential tax burden.
Suggestion 3: Proposes repealing the 2008 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which has not been enforced since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision.
Suggestion 4: The $10 billion bond measure focused on climate and water resources, including wildfire prevention and drought preparedness.
Suggestion 5: It would lower the voter threshold required for local governments to levy taxes or bonds for affordable housing or public infrastructure projects.
Sentence 6: The goal is to amend the state constitution to ban forced labor in prisons by removing existing language allowing it as a disciplinary measure.
Sentence 32: Seeks to raise California’s minimum wage to $18 over two years, with different timelines for large and small employers.
Sentence 33: Will loosen restrictions on local rent control laws by repealing parts of the Costa-Hawkins Residential Rent Act.
Sentence 34: Establishes limits on the spending of certain health care providers’ income from prescription drugs, with particular emphasis on providers with repeat health conditions.
Sentence 35: Asks voters to make a temporary tax on health insurance companies permanent, specifically directing funds to Medicaid and other health care programs.
Sentence 36: Proposes tougher penalties for fentanyl-related crimes, a hotly contested measure that would repeal parts of 2014’s Proposition 47.

California County Guide

Voters in every corner of California will face individual ballots tailored to the unique mix of candidates and local offerings in their district. Here’s the full list of counties where voters can expect to make big decisions on November 5th:

Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Eldorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba.

Voting just got easier

California voters have several options to cast their ballots this year:

Voting by mail: Every registered voter in California received a mail-in ballot. Drop it in any USPS mailbox or return it in person to any ballot drop box, voting center or county election office.
Personal voting: Voters can also go to their polling place or designated location for early voting or on Election Day, November 5th. Polls close at 8:00 p.m., but any voter in line by then can still vote.
Ballot tracking: For added confidence, the Secretary of State’s website allows voters to track their ballots, from mailing to counting, with updates available via text message, email or phone.

With so many critical races and offers, The voices of Californians this November will resonate far beyond state borders. setting the tone on issues from housing and labor rights to water conservation and criminal justice.