California's open lieutenant governor race features a nonpartisan top-two primary held June 2, 2026, with the incumbent term-limited and seeking another office. Multiple Democratic candidates, including state Treasurer Fiona Ma, former Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs, and Newsom administration official Josh Fryday, split the party's vote share, enabling Republican Gloria Romero—running on a joint ticket with gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton—to secure second place behind Ma in early results. Polling prior to the primary showed Ma leading but with several contenders clustered closely behind, reflecting low voter visibility for the largely ceremonial role and emphasis on issues like higher education access. Vote counting continues, with the top two advancing to the November general election.