Voter's Edge California Voter Guide
Get the facts before you vote.
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Tuesday September 14, 2021 — Special Election
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State of California - Governor Newsom Replacement

Governor — State of California

Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Governor — State of California

Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.

Newsom Replacement
Access additional information about this contest in the tabs in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.

About this office

The highest elected official in California: Oversees most state departments and agencies. Prepares annual state budget. Approves or rejects new state laws.

Candidates Whose Campaigns Are Suspended

One candidate has suspended his campaign, but still appears in Voter's Edge and on the ballot.

Candidate Doug Ose has suspended his campaign. Votes cast for this candidate will still be counted.

You must select at least 2 candidates to compare them.

Candidates

You can vote for 1 of these 53 candidates.

Larry A. Elder

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Larry A. Elder's priorities are not yet available.

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Kevin Paffrath

Democratic
Top 3 Priorities
Kevin Paffrath's priorities are not yet available.

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Kevin L. Faulconer

Republican
Former Mayor of San Diego, Businessman...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Clean up tent encampments on the sidewalk, end open...
  2. I'll get tough on crime in California. Instead of...
  3. We must cut taxes for our middle-class families that...
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Brandon M. Ross

Democratic
Medical doctor and attorney at law
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Use my medical background to analyze and apply the...
  2. Prioritize and redirect resources toward better policy...
  3. Legislate to help better control gun violence in California,...
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John Cox

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
John Cox's priorities are not yet available.

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Kevin Kiley

Republican
California Legislator
Top 3 Priorities
  1. End the era of corruption in California and restore...
  2. End the State of Emergency and return power to local...
  3. Call a Special Session of the Legislature to address...
Profile
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Jacqueline McGowan

Democratic
Cannabis Consultant and Community...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Relieve small businesses by addressing over regulation...
  2. Reform our justice system to restore the trust of...
  3. Enact environmentally sound infrastructure projects...
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Joel Ventresca

Democratic
Retired Airport Analyst & Administrator
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Enact high quality healthcare & education, cradle-to-grave,...
  2. Reverse growing economic inequality & expand economic...
  3. Reinvent California into the first zero-carbon emissions...
Profile
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Daniel Watts

Democratic
Free speech lawyer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Free speech. Public colleges must obey the First Amendment....
  2. Free college. Every public college that enacts a student...
  3. Free speech again. Seriously, it's a huge problem.
Profile
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Holly L. Baade

Democratic
Director of Mettacine.Org, Small...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Bring Honest Leadership to the State and Raise-Up...
  2. Full Transparency for State Funding, Spending and...
  3. Increase Funds and Improve Capacity in Water Resource...
Profile
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Patrick Kilpatrick

Democratic
Actor/producer/screenwriter/writer...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Lower taxes to place money in the hands of every Californian...
  2. Pro-business eco-sensitive industry policies including...
  3. Encouragement of parental choice in education with...
Profile
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Top 3 Priorities
Armando "Mando" Perez-Serrato's priorities are not yet available.

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Caitlyn Jenner

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Caitlyn Jenner's priorities are not yet available.

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John R. Drake

Democratic
College Student
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Affordable Housing
  2. Affordable Education
  3. Affordable Healthcare
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Dan Kapelovitz

Green
Criminal Defense and Animal Rights...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Justice for humans
  2. Justice for animals
  3. Justice for the environment
Profile
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Jeff Hewitt

Libertarian
Top 3 Priorities
Jeff Hewitt's priorities are not yet available.

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Ted Gaines

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Ted Gaines's priorities are not yet available.

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Angelyne

No Party Preference
Top 3 Priorities
Angelyne's priorities are not yet available.

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David Moore

No Party Preference
Special Education Teacher
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Contain the pandemic
  2. Reduce inequality by addressing homelessness and access...
  3. Expand education
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Anthony Trimino

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Anthony Trimino's priorities are not yet available.

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Doug Ose

Republican
Farmer and small business owner
Top 3 Priorities
  1. [This candidate is no longer running in this election.]
  2. [Due to the timing of his decision, he will remain...
  3. [Votes cast for him will still be counted.]
Profile
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Michael Loebs

No Party Preference
University Lecturer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Replace inefficient social welfare system with UBI,...
  2. Make government more accountable, with emphasis on...
  3. Protect California's environment and resources for...
Profile
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Heather Collins

Green
Cosmetologist/business owner/immigrant
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Cancel Newsom's emergency order and AB5
  2. Return to law and order
  3. Education is THE key to ending systemic poverty.
Profile
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Major Singh

No Party Preference
Software Engineer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Bring Back Quality of Life
  2. Respect - Respect for everyone. Integrity - Work honestly.
  3. Balance - Balanced decisions. Sharing - Share your...
Profile
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David Lozano

Republican
Executive Officer / Attorney
Top 3 Priorities
  1. End Homelessness in 2 Years or Less
  2. Introduce Revolutionary Changes to Police Policy,...
  3. Making Homes Affordable for all Californians and to...
Profile
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Denver Stoner

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Denver Stoner's priorities are not yet available.

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Sam L. Gallucci

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Sam L. Gallucci's priorities are not yet available.

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Steve Chavez Lodge

Republican
Retired Homicide Detective / Business...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Public Safety including Homelessness, Eliminating...
  2. Creating Correctional Healthcare & Rehabilitation...
  3. Bringing back the rule of law to California and reestablishing...
Profile
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Jenny Rae Le Roux

Republican
Business Owner, Farmer, Mother
Top 3 Priorities
  1. I will restore economic growth to free California...
  2. I will free California by reducing homelessness. My...
  3. I will free California to breathe by reducing wildfire...
Profile
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David Alexander Bramante

Republican
Realtor / Multifamily Developer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Ending all Emergency Orders, Government Mandates,...
  2. Protecting Californians' 2 Amendment Rights, rolling...
  3. Solving water issues that are negatively impacting...
Profile
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Diego Martinez

Republican
Fugitive Recovery Agent, Business...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. If you do the crime, you are going to do the time....
  2. Water is important to the survival of the human race....
  3. Education – We believe in school choice in every school....
Profile
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Sarah Stephens

Republican
Top 3 Priorities
Sarah Stephens's priorities are not yet available.

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Dennis Richter

No Party Preference
Currently retail store worker at...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Organize a revolutionary fight for a workers and farmers...
  2. For a massive government funded public works program...
  3. Nationalize PG &E and Southern Cal. Edison
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Robert C. Newman II

Republican
farmer/research psychologist
Top 3 Priorities
  1. maintain integrity of the separate branches of government...
  2. open CA: church, school, business; get government...
  3. water: Repair the Oroville Dam build off stream reservoirs...
Profile
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Denis Lucey

No Party Preference
Teacher, Business Owner, Sales Representative
Top 3 Priorities
  1. 50% Child Custody Rights to all Competent Parents
  2. Native Californian involvement in all Environmental...
  3. Stop Parental Alienation and Childhood Divorce Trauma
Profile
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James G. Hanink

No Party Preference
Educator and writer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Foster policies that promote a consistent respect...
  2. Foster policies that promote a fair distribution of...
  3. Foster policies that help safeguard California against...
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Daniel Mercuri

Republican
Business Owner
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Restoring Medical Freedom. Ending mask mandates, forced...
  2. Illegal Immigration. Ending sanctuary city and state...
  3. Prevent Human/Child Sex Trafficking.
Profile
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Top 3 Priorities
Chauncey "Slim" Killens's priorities are not yet available.

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Leo S. Zacky

Republican
Businessman / Farmer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Homeless Crisis
  2. Ending the Water Crisis (Drought)
  3. Exposing and Ending Corruption in Government
Profile
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Kevin K. Kaul

No Party Preference
Real Estate Developer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Bring global business to California through a California...
  2. Improve women's entrepreneurship from 8% to 50%; train...
  3. Post-pandemic grants to California households for...
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David Hillberg

Republican
(Aircfraft Mechanic / Actor )
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Constitutional and lawful governance ( Nancy said...
  2. remove the burden of the citizens from over taxation,...
  3. Sanctuary state and city policies that violate law...
Profile
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Adam Papagan

No Party Preference
Entertainer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Stop The Wildfires
  2. Decrease The Cost of Living
  3. Increase Political Literacy
Profile
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Rhonda Furin

Republican
NonProfit President
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Education: Our educational system should not be one-size-fits-all...
  2. Stopping Socialism: It is the free market principles...
  3. Bringing Back The California Dream: Housing has become...
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Nickolas Wildstar

Republican
Musician / Entrepreneur / Father
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Economy - Providing tax relief to all income earners...
  2. Homelessness - Build 3D printed homes, Earthships,...
  3. Gold New Deal - Creation of public owned utility to...
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Jeremiah "Jeremy" Marciniak

No Party Preference
Commercial Driver and Professional...
Top 3 Priorities
  1. Supporting transparency and efficiency in State spending...
  2. Expanding social programs for the homeless in order...
  3. Supporting traditional learning in schools with emphasis...
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Joe M. Symmon

Republican
Community volunteer
Top 3 Priorities
  1. I will protect the constitution and our family values.
  2. I will reduce Taxes to enable us do business and create...
  3. Eradicating homelessness.
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Top 3 Priorities
Stacy Smith (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Major Williams (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Thuy E. Hugens (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Roxanne (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Vivek B. Mohan (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Miki Habryn (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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Top 3 Priorities
Vince Lundgren (Write-In)'s priorities are not yet available.

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