Get yourself and your people ready to VOTE EARLY!

• Verify you are registered, update as needed
• address current, name matches voter ID
• Sign up for ballot tracking in CA at Ballot Trax
• Plan to vote early via drop box (10/5) or voting center (10/24)
• Start populating your sample Ballot at Blue Voter Guide
• Get informed about candidates and propositions
• LBI Election Update newsletters with voter guide resources
• We’ll review the propositions & elected offices tonight

Let’s review what’s on the 2026 General Election Ballot

The 2 candidates who received the most votes in the June Primary election appear on your ballot for Federal, CA and LA County elected offices - These 2 candidates can be from the same party

2 Municipal Elections - Water Replenishment & LBCC Trustees

14 CA ballot propositions and 2 LA County Ballot Measures

2 CA Supreme Ct & 18 2nd DC of Appeals Judges retention question, and 4 LA County Superior Court Judges races

You do not have to vote on everything. Your votes still count even if you choose to skip some things on your ballot

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Easy Voter Guide

• US Senators Schiff and Padilla and CA State Senator Lena Gonzalez are not on the ballot in this election
• Congressman Robert Garcia, State Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal and the State Board of Equalization are on the ballot

Easy Voter Guide

Partisan Elected office races

Most races are now a contest of 1 red vs 1 blue candidate

• primary is over, now we VOTE BLUE no matter who

Blue Voter Guide helps highlight the few blue vs blue races

• CA Insurance Commissioner - Jane Kim vs Ben Allen
• CA State Assy #69 - Lowenthal (Incumbent) vs Essex
• State Board of Equalization District 3 - Gipson vs Sukatano

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Non-partisan elected office races (Blue voter guide info)

CA Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Richard Barrera (CTA endorsed) vs
• Sonja Shaw (GOP & Mom’s for Liberty endorsed)

LA County Sheriff

• Robert Luna (Incumbent) vs
• Alex Villanueva (GOP group support, County oversight said Do Not Rehire due to discrimination and harassment violations)

Municipal Elections November 2026

Water Replenishment District (WRD) District 3

• Al Austin (Former Long Beach Councilmember / Utilities Commissioner) Website: www.alaustinforwrd.com

• Tracy Burns​ Website: www.tracyburns2026.com

• Deborah Castro​ Website: www.deborahcastro.com

• Mike Murchison​ Website: www.votemikemurchison.com

• Tonia Uranga​​ Email: tonia.reyesuranga@gmail.com

source

Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees

• Area 1: Incumbent Trustee and 2026 Board President Uduak-Joe Ntuk is running for re-election ​Website: www.voteuduakjoe.com

• Area 3: Incumbent Trustee Sunny Zia is running for re-election Email: szia@lbcc.edu

• Area 5: Candidate Huy Nguyen is running for election for the seat vacated by Virginia Baxter​ Website: www.votenguyen4lbcc.com

All endorsed by the LBCC Faculty Association. It appears from the LA Registrar/Recorder Candidate portal they are running unopposed.

Find your LBCC District by address

Key CA Proposition endorsements & recommendations

What we will present on the ballot propositions

For propositions 1, 4, 5, 39, and 43 we provide a summary of non partisan ACLU CA or LWVC recommendations for or against

For proposition 3 we provide a summary from the Blue Voter Guide

For proposition 40, as an endorsing organization, we provide a summary of why we think it’s critical to vote YES on 40, and vote NO on propositions 41 & 42 based upon many sources and research

For propositions 2, 37, 38, 44 & 45 we provide our summary of the key takeways from a review of multiple trusted non-partisan sources

Our LBI Election Update newsletter contains voter guide resources where you can delve deeper into each of these propositions

Prop 1 - Bonds for affordable housing programs

• Authorizes $11.25B bond to for affordable homes and expands homeownership which benefits all – with an equity lens towards veterans, seniors, low- and middle-income working families, farmworkers, foster youth, the disabled and houseless
• Safe, stable housing gives people the foundation to work, raise families and fully participate in their communities
• Housing is a human right; California should invest in affordable housing that helps every person live with dignity and security

ACLU CA

Prop 2: Increases State’s Rainy-Day Fund

Amends the state Constitution to raise the cap on deposits into the rainy-day fund (Budget Stabilization Account), from 10% to 20% of General Fund tax revenue. Deposits into this fund, and other funds set aside, would not count toward the state spending limit until funds are spent. Also extends and expands extra debt payments.

• More $$ in reserve fund in prosperous years, results in fewer cuts to public education and other core services during economic downturns.
• Extra debt payment requirement extended 10 years (until 2040).

• Extra payments are made to retiree pensions and health care. Expansion would include extra payments to schools and community colleges, repayment of loans from other state funds, and certain federal loans.

Prop 3 - Extend current income tax rates on top 2%

• Makes existing tax brackets on California’s highest-income earners permanent. These collect $5 -15 billion revenue yearly
• 89% of the money goes to K-12 public schools and 11% goes to community colleges
• These top tax rates were first enacted by voters in 2012 and renewed in 2016, and if not approved, will expire in 2031
• Letting this high-income tax expire would give the top 1% income earners another major tax cut

BVG

Prop 4 - Lift ban on public campaign financing

• Empowers small-dollar donors and reduces the influence of large special interests.
• Ensures elected officials are accountable to the voters they represent, not just wealthy campaign contributors.
• Public financing opens the playing field to more candidates who reflect the full diversity of California.
• Latino, Asian American, and Black Californians make up nearly two-thirds of our population.
• When candidates on the ballot speak to their lives and concerns, they have more reason to engage in voting.

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ACLU CA

Prop 5 - Remove replacement Q from recall ballot

• The recall ballot asks two connected questions: (1) Should the official be recalled? and (2) If so, who should replace them?
• An elected official can be removed by a narrow majority. Then, a candidate listed in question #2 can win the office with far less than 50% of the votes cast in an election.
• This encourages political actors to target officials they couldn’t defeat in a regular election and to install replacements who lack broad public support.
• Restore fairness and integrity by removing question #2 from the recall ballot.

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LWVC

Prop 37: Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers

$850,000

Newly Built Home

Example loans are both at 6.5% fixed

• Buyer pays minimum 3% down, loan covers remainder up to 17%.
• New construction, or newly converted

from commercial to residential only.

• Buyer must earn at or below

2x Area Median Income (AMI)

(e.g., LA County AMI=$203,150).

• Loan payments due monthly – in addition to conventional 1^st mortgage payment, insurance, HOA dues, etc.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Authorizes California Housing Finance Agency (CalFHA) to sell up to $25 billion in revenue bonds to fund fixed rate, “low-interest” down payment loans (2nd mortgages).

Prop 38: Bonds for Immunology Research

Authorizes the state to issue $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund research in immunology and immunotherapy. ~50% specifically for cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s research, and ~50% for competitive research grant awards to universities and non-profits.

• Supports a single unnamed research institute as recipient of $4.2 billion: California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy (CIII), non-profit associated with UCLA.
• 10% of any “discovery revenues” to be paid back to state.
• Recipients must use CA suppliers for at least 50% of goods and services.
• Any approved treatments sold in CA to be offered at 20% discount.

Prop 39 - Government ID required at the polls

• Requires voters to present a government-issued ID for in-person voting and add a personal ID# on vote-by-mail envelopes
• These barriers would make it harder for eligible Californians to vote, put voter privacy at risk, and especially affect voters who already face obstacles to participating in our democracy, including voters of color, young and disabled voters
• Voting is a fundamental right; CA should protect every eligible person’s freedom to vote, not make it harder to exercise that right
• (Currently, voters are required to confirm citizenship and provide identification information when they register to vote)

ACLU CA

Prop 40 - The CA Billionaire Tax

• Levies a one time emergency 5% tax on CA billionaire wealth
• Payable over 5 years, to backfill healthcare cuts from BBB
• The tax would only apply to ~250 of the wealthiest Californians
• The BBB gave the rich (especially billionaires) a tax cut, and paid for those tax cuts by slashing $100B from CA healthcare
• Healthcare cuts go into full force Jan ‘27, right after the midterms
• 3.5 million Californians expected to lose health insurance
• Healthcare insurance premiums will rise for all Californians
• Hospitals and healthcare centers will close, ~145K jobs lost

YES ON 40

Prop 40 - The CA Billionaire Tax

• 90% of Prop 40 tax proceeds go directly to healthcare
• Billionaires unlikely to leave CA (must pay anyway if here Jan ‘26)
• “Well-structured,” say tax experts; hard to challenge legally
• Newsom/Becerra give no other plan to save CA healthcare
• Prop 40 is critical to prevent CA healthcare collapse

LBI has voted to endorse Prop 40 - Yes on Prop 40 👍 and

No on props 41 & 42 🛑👎 which were crafted to nullify Prop 40

YES ON 40

Prop 40 is highly controversial - orgs not aligned

Billionaires’ money is fueling the fight against Prop 40, funding scary and misleading TV ads, and glossy mailers about billionaire flight

Donor class has outsized influence, and Dem party is not aligned

• Gov Newsom & Becerra oppose 40, but offer no plan for $ cuts
• Big floor battle at CA Dem convention to agree to ENDORSE
• LA County Dem party in similar struggle now

CTA, NAACP CA say No on 40, but offer no solution to crisis

CADEM, DSA CA, CA Labor Federation of Labor Unions say YES

Likely democratic voters want prop 40 - polling at 70% (source)

YES ON 40

Prop 41 - Spending limits & audits on new Special Taxes

• Prop 41 was put on the ballot SOLELY to block 40
• Vote NO on 41 to support YES on 40 position
• Prop 41 would make SPECIAL TAX revenue spending subject to the state spending cap (currently exempt from cap)
• This prevents Prop 40 revenue from being spent as defined
• Billionaire Tax not mentioned directly, it contains a standard CA poison pill that if 41 receives more votes than other measures with an overlapping topic (the billionaire tax) it nullifies it

YES ON 40

Prop 42 - Limits new state taxes of personal property

• Prop 42 was put on the ballot SOLELY to block 40
• Vote NO on 42 to support YES on 40 position
• Prop 42 restricts new taxes on personal property and prohibits certain retroactive taxes
• Both provisions directly conflict with Prop 40, which imposes a tax on personal property, retroactively to Jan ‘26
• Billionaire Tax not mentioned directly, it contains a standard CA poison pill that if 42 receives more votes than other measures with an overlapping topic (the billionaire tax) it nullifies it

YES ON 40

Prop 43 - Raise approval % for local tax initiatives

• Raises voter-approval threshold for local revenue measures that voters themselves put on the ballot from simple majority to to two-thirds.
• A minority one-third of voters could block what the majority wants, tying the hands of residents to fund critical priorities like schools, parks, affordable housing, health care, public transit.
• Communities deserve the freedom to make local decisions that improve people’s lives.

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ACLU CA

Prop 44: Community Health Center Spending

Requires non-profit safety net clinics, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), to spend at least 90% of their revenue on patient services rather than overhead (salaries, supplies, and other non-program expenses). There are ~2000 clinics serving primarily low-income patients. 70% of patients have Medi-Cal, 15% have Medicare, and 15% are uninsured.

• Average spending is currently ~80%.
• Revenues and expenses are currently reported to state and federal govts.
• This requirement + BBB cuts = some clinics closing.
• Attorney General would determine which costs are healthcare-related.
• Clinics will pay a penalty if they fall short.

Prop 45: Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects

Amends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to create new deadlines for the environmental review of most housing, transportation, water, health and clean energy projects defined as “essential” in order to speed up permitting and allow projects to move forward faster.

• Establishes shorter timelines for public agencies to complete environmental review process (includes limiting public comment periods and Native American tribe consultations).
• Limits existing agency requirement to consider a range of alternatives to reduce impacts.
• Changes court review process by setting deadlines for lawsuits and limiting evidence the court can consider.
• Potential for increased risk to public health and higher mitigation costs.
• Debate about whether data center projects will qualify as “essential” has recently emerged.

LA County Ballot Measure A

LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT

• REITERATING GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION OBLIGATIONS
• ESTABLISHING IMPARTIAL BINDING ARBITRATION FOR CERTIFIED PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE DISPUTES
• Prohibit strikes by DA investigators, medical examiners, lifeguards; their supervisors; and non administrative civilian employees in the Fire, Sheriff's and Medical Examiner Depts

LA County Ballot Measure E (related article)

PROPOSED COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ETHICS COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET ALLOCATION CHARTER AMENDMENT

• Provide greater independence and structure for the County of Los Angeles Ethics Commission, Office of Ethics Compliance, and Ethics Compliance Officer
• including appointment processes, qualifications, term, duties and responsibilities, and to
• continue uninterrupted the County's commitment to community investment and alternatives to incarceration