RIDGECREST / BAKERSFIELD, California — Updated October 14, 2026. On November 3, Kern County voters will decide California’s next governor, other statewide officers, legislative representation and measures. Local contests depend on the voter’s home address: a resident of Ridgecrest does not necessarily receive the same local races as a resident of Inyokern, Johannesburg, Randsburg or Bakersfield.

Governor: two candidates remain

The November election features Xavier Becerra (Democratic) and Steve Hilton (Republican). California uses a top-two primary for this office, meaning the highest-finishing two primary candidates advance to November regardless of party. The gubernatorial winner will succeed Gavin Newsom, who cannot run for a third consecutive term.

Other statewide candidate contests

  • Lieutenant Governor: Fiona Ma (Democratic) / Gloria Romero (Republican).
  • Secretary of State: Shirley N. Weber (Democratic) / Donald P. “Don” Wagner (Republican).
  • State Controller: Malia M. Cohen (Democratic) / Herb W Morgan (Republican).
  • State Treasurer: Eleni Kounalakis (Democratic) / Jennifer Hawks (Republican).
  • Attorney General: Rob Bonta (Democratic) / Michael E. Gates (Republican).
  • Insurance Commissioner: Ben Allen (Democratic) / Jane Kim (Democratic).
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction (nonpartisan): Richard Barrera / Sonja Shaw.

Voters also select the member of the State Board of Equalization for their assigned district. The candidates vary by Board district; see the official candidate lists rather than assuming a single pair applies everywhere.

Which congressional and state legislative races apply?

Kern County residents will also see the applicable U.S. House and California State Assembly contest for their home district. Even-numbered California State Senate districts are holding regular elections in 2026; whether one appears on an individual ballot depends on the address. In the Indian Wells Valley and the high desert, district boundaries matter: the newspaper’s county label is not enough to establish a resident’s assigned candidates.

Fourteen statewide propositions

There are 14 statewide propositions: Proposition 1, Proposition 2, Proposition 3, Proposition 4, Proposition 5, Proposition 37, Proposition 38, Proposition 39, Proposition 40, Proposition 41, Proposition 42, Proposition 43, Proposition 44, Proposition 45. Subjects include housing funding, state fiscal rules, schools and health funding, election administration, medical research, identification requirements, taxes and environmental review. The official guide explains the individual measures and their fiscal analyses.

What is specific to Kern County?

Across Ridgecrest, Inyokern, Johannesburg, Randsburg, Bakersfield and the rest of Kern County, the ballot may contain county offices and local candidates or measures, plus city, school-board, water-district or other special-district contests. These are not uniform countywide. In particular, unincorporated communities and incorporated cities do not share every municipal contest. The Kern County Elections Office is the authoritative source for the district-specific ballot and official candidate/measure materials.

For readers of Ridgecrest News, Inyokern News, Johannesburg News and Randsburg News: this guide covers the countywide and statewide framework, not an invented list of local contests. See the official Kern County sample ballot for your exact precinct before relying on a candidate or measure list.

Ridgecrest municipal races within Kern County

Readers in the incorporated City of Ridgecrest also have a local mayoral contest and two at-large City Council seats in the November 3 municipal election. Regional candidate reporting lists Megan Washington and Jeremy “JV” Vaughan for mayor, along with six City Council contenders: Brenda Licitra, John P. “Skip” Gorman, Ron Strand, Debilyn Kinzler, Lawrence C. Gaceta and Tamara “Charlon” Bouyer. This municipal election is not a countywide contest and should not be attributed to neighboring Inyokern, Johannesburg or Randsburg.

For the candidate names, local issues and documented sources, read the Ridgecrest News municipal election section. Primary election authorities: Ridgecrest City Clerk and Kern County Elections. Regional candidates were reported by 23ABC. Always check the official candidate list for the final ballot spelling.

Read the election stories from local newspapers

Local coverage of Kern County communities: Ridgecrest News, Inyokern News, Johannesburg News and Randsburg News. These community editions link back to official county sources; local races vary by district.

Official sources

California Secretary of State — November 2026 election · Official statewide candidate statements · State propositions · Kern County Elections.

Voting dates, registration and accessible guides

  • October 19, 2026: Last day for regular online voter registration. Check your status or register at California Online Voter Registration. Contact your county elections office for options if you miss the regular deadline.
  • November 3, 2026: Election Day. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Local vote centers and ballot drop-off arrangements vary by county.
  • Vote by mail: County election offices began mailing ballots by October 5. Check official deadlines for returning or postmarking your ballot, and use an official ballot drop-off location if mailing deadlines are close.
  • Spanish and audio: The Secretary of State provides official Spanish, audio, PDF and large-print voter guides.

Check the ballot for your exact address: Congressional, legislative, city, school and special-district contests differ within counties. See your official county elections office or sample ballot. Official California November 3 election information →

California58 is an independent news project, not an elections authority. This overview is current to October 14, 2026 and does not replace a voter-specific official sample ballot. Corrections: california58com@gmail.com.

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