California Farm Bureau Announces 2026 Election Endorsements
The statewide organization has unveiled its candidate selections and ballot initiative stances ahead of the November election.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Organic Food
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The California Farm Bureau has released its official election guide, detailing endorsements for eleven candidates and positions on ten statewide ballot initiatives. The organization based its choices on each candidate's potential to prioritize agricultural profitability, taxation, and regulation.
Why it matters
The bureau aims to leverage its political influence to support candidates and policies that minimize regulatory burdens and taxes on the state's farming and ranching community. These endorsements arrive as California faces a projected $1.1 billion in total political advertising expenditures for the cycle.
The California Farm Bureau has taken formal positions on 10 out of 14 statewide initiatives. Currently, 23.2 million ballots are in the hands of voters for the upcoming November 3, 2026, election.
The players
Fiona Ma
She is the current California state treasurer who has been selected by the Farm Bureau as their candidate for lieutenant governor.
Ben Allen
He is a candidate for insurance commissioner who has received the official endorsement of the California Farm Bureau.
Gloria Romero
A former state senator who made news by switching her party affiliation to the Republican Party in 2024.
California Farm Bureau
This organization represents farmers and ranchers across the state and works to influence agricultural policy through lobbying and endorsements.
The details
The bureau is backing Fiona Ma for lieutenant governor and Ben Allen for insurance commissioner, while maintaining a clear stance on several propositions. The organization explicitly opposes Proposition 40, though it supports both Proposition 43 and Proposition 45.
Timeline
Fiona Ma became California state treasurer in 2019.
Fiona Ma co-founded the San Francisco Farm Bureau in 2024.
Gloria Romero switched to the Republican Party in 2024.
The California Farm Bureau released its election guide in October 2026.
The 2026 election day is November 3, 2026.
Culture Shift
The Bureau’s political activity is part of a broader push to counteract state-level regulations like the California Environmental Quality Act, which often impacts land-use and farming operations. This alignment signifies a strategic shift toward electing officials who advocate for reduced agricultural oversight.
For California residents, these endorsements serve as a guide to which candidates the agricultural sector views as favorable for maintaining food stability and pricing. Voters can use the official guide to understand how their ballot choices might influence future state-level agricultural regulations.
The takeaway
The California Farm Bureau is prioritizing candidates who focus on agricultural profitability to influence the state's regulatory climate. Voters are encouraged to review the complete list of endorsements to understand how these selections align with their own economic and agricultural priorities.
Further reading
Learn more about agricultural policy and food production in the California Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agri-Pulse Communications.
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