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California

Ma, Romero Face Off for California Lieutenant Governor

Democrat Fiona Ma and Republican Gloria Romero advanced from the June primary to contest the state's lieutenant governor seat.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

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Democrat Fiona Ma and Republican Gloria Romero face off Tuesday in California's statewide lieutenant governor election to succeed termed-out Eleni Kounalakis. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should California require government-issued identification to vote?

California voters will choose between Democratic state Treasurer Fiona Ma and Republican Gloria Romero in a statewide election for lieutenant governor on Tuesday. The winner will succeed termed-out Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.

Why it matters

The race determines who will hold the state's second-highest office, a role that succeeds the governor. Both candidates oppose Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on billionaires' covered assets, while the two differ sharply on voter identification under Proposition 39.

Ma took 19% of the June primary vote and Romero 18%, placing both ahead of the field. The available data does not show the final general election outcome or turnout projections.

The players

Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma is a Democratic California state treasurer and former Assembly member who is seeking the lieutenant governor office.

Gloria Romero

Gloria Romero is a former Democratic California state Senate majority leader who switched to the Republican Party and is running for lieutenant governor.

Eleni Kounalakis

Eleni Kounalakis is California's current lieutenant governor, who is termed out of office and whose seat is being contested.

The details

Fiona Ma, 60, is a Democrat currently serving as state treasurer and previously represented Marin and Sonoma counties in the Assembly. Gloria Romero, 71, is a former Democratic state Senate majority leader who served from 2005 to 2008 and represented Los Angeles County; she left the Democratic Party in 2024, citing disagreements over crime, gender identity, COVID-19 restrictions and school choice, and endorsed President Trump for a second term that year.

Timeline

  1. June 2026: Primary election in which Ma and Romero advanced.

  2. 2024: Romero left the Democratic Party and endorsed Trump for a second term.

  3. 2005 to 2008: Romero served as Senate majority leader.

  4. November 3, 2026: General election vote for lieutenant governor.

Political Context

Romero's 2024 departure from the Democratic Party and her endorsement of President Trump set her apart from the state's traditional Democratic-leaning electorate. Both candidates' opposition to Proposition 40 and their split on Proposition 39 frame the contest around voter identification and tax policy.

Voters will decide who leads the state Senate as presiding officer and succeeds the governor, shaping how the Senate operates. The proposed voter identification requirement in Proposition 39 and the billionaire tax in Proposition 40 would directly affect how Californians vote and how the state taxes assets if approved.

The takeaway

Voters choosing a lieutenant governor are also indirectly weighing the ballot measures on voter ID and billionaire taxes, since the candidates' positions on those measures differ. Following the November 3 results will show how partisan shifts like Romero's play out statewide.

What happens next

The general election for lieutenant governor will be held on November 3, 2026.

Further reading

For more on how statewide races like this one are decided, see California Elections.

Live Poll

Should California require government-issued identification to vote?