PRESS RELEASE

PR26-17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2026
Contact: sospress@sos.ca.gov

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber,
Ph.D., Reminds Candidates of Upcoming Deadline to Submit Statements for Inclusion in the State Voter Information Guide 
 

Sacramento, Calif. – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., reminds candidates of upcoming deadline to submit statements for inclusion in the June 2, 2026, Primary Election State Voter Information Guide. 

Statewide Constitutional Candidates 

Candidate statements must be received by the Office of the California Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 11, 2026. 

Candidates for statewide constitutional office may purchase space for a 250-word statement in the state Voter Information Guide. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of the candidate (Government Code section 85601(a)). The statement shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications. 

Candidates must accept voluntary expenditure limits in order to purchase space for a candidate statement. More information about voluntary spending limits can be found at https://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/state-contribution-limits.html. 

More information about statewide constitutional candidate statements can be found at https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/candidate-statement-guidelines.pdf. 

United States House of Representatives and State Legislative Office Candidates 

Candidates for United States House of Representatives, State Senator, and State Assembly may purchase space for a candidate statement in a county voter information guide.

These candidates have until March 11, 2026 to submit candidate statements to their county elections official for the local county voter information guide in the county or counties in which the district lies. 

Candidates for state legislative office must accept voluntary expenditure limits in order to purchase space for a candidate statement. More information about voluntary spending limits can be found at https://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/state-contribution-limits.html. 

More information about county election offices can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices. 

California Elections Code sections 9092, 13307-13314 and Government Code sections 88000-88007 describe the Voter Information Guide and candidate statements.

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