Pursuant to Proposition 14 passed in 2010, California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary for almost all races, with the presidential primary races being the notable exception. Under the nonpartisan blanket primary system, all the candidates for the same elected office, regardless of respective political party, run against each other at once during the primary. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes in the primary election then become the contestants in the general election.[2]
Presidential primaries were held in California on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024. All six of the state's registered political parties held primary elections. California is a semi-closed primary state, in which independent voters may choose which party primary to vote in.[4]
There were two elections on the ballot for the same Class 1 seat: a special election for the remainder of Feinstein's term expiring on January 3, 2025, and a regular election for the full term ending on January 3, 2031.[13] Democratic U.S. representative Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball player Steve Garvey advanced to the general election in both the regular and special elections.[14]
All odd-numbered seats of the California State Senate are up for election to four-year terms. 10 senators are term-limited in 2024, while Democrat Dave Min is retiring early to run for Congress.
All 80 seats of the California State Assembly are up for election to two-year terms. Eight assemblymembers are term-limited in 2024, and 14 are retiring early to run for another office.
Since the passage of a November 2011 law, only state propositions placed on the ballot by the state legislature may appear on the primary ballot, and all qualifying measures placed via petition are automatically moved to the general election ballot.[15] Only one of these have been put on the 2024 primary ballot:
Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure, will provide additional behavioral health services and issue up to about $6.4 billion in bonds to fund housing for homeless individuals and veterans. The measure would also, among others, shift roughly $140 million annually of existing tax revenue for existing mental health, drug, and alcohol treatment care from the counties to the state so the counties could focus more on housing and personalized support services. Supporters of Proposition 1 favor this proposed expansion of behavioral health and addiction services, along with the additional housing for the homeless. Opponents of the measure object to the shift in spending that could cut existing county mental health programs, along with the resulting additional bond debt.[16][17]
The state legislature put five propositions on the general election ballot, while five others were put on via petition.[19]
Proposition 2, a bond measure placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would issue $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and upgrades to public schools and colleges.[19][20]
Proposition 3, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would repeal Proposition 8 and declare in the state constitution that that the "right to marry is a fundamental right", effectively allowing same-sex couples to once again marry.[19][22]
Proposition 4, a bond measure placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would issue $10 billion in bonds to fund various water infrastructure, energy, and environmental protection projects.[19][23]
Proposition 5, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would lower the supermajority vote requirement from 66.67% to 55% for any county or local bond measure that would fund affordable housing projects and public infrastructure.[19][24]
Proposition 6, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would repeal the line saying, "Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime", replacing it with language saying that involuntary servitude is prohibited absolutely.[19][25]
Proposition 32, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would raise the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, then annually adjust it for inflation.[19][26]
Proposition 33, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would repeal the Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, allowing cities to once again establish their own rent controls on single-family dwellings, condominiums, and residential properties completed after February 1, 1995.[19][27]
Proposition 34, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would require health care providers that have spent over $100 million in any 10-year period on anything other than direct patient care, and operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations, to spend 98% of the revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.[19][28]
Proposition 35, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would make permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, currently set to expire in 2026. It would also require the revenues generated by the tax to only be used for specified Medi-Cal services, and prohibit the revenue from being used to replace other existing Medi-Cal funding.[19][29]
Proposition 36, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would increase the penalties and sentences for certain drug and theft crimes, which currently are only chargeable as misdemeanors. It would allow, among others, felony charges for possessing fentanyl and other certain drugs, and for thefts under $950, with two prior drug or theft convictions, respectively.[19][30]
Yes
No