Proposition 5: Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Statewide — all of California
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Placed on the ballot by the Legislature as SCA 1 (Chapter 204, Statutes of 2024). Final legislative votes: Senate 32 ayes, 8 noes; Assembly 59 ayes, 17 noes.[1][4]
The question on the ballot
CHANGES RECALL ELECTION PROCESS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICERS. LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Under current law, voters decide at the same election whether (1) to recall a state officer, and (2) who will replace that officer if recalled. Under this measure: if the Governor is recalled, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term or until a successor is elected; for all other recalled officers, the office will remain vacant until filled by a subsequent special election or appointment as specified in existing law; and a recalled officer may be a candidate in a special election to fill the office.[1]
Removes the second question (who should replace the official) from state-level recall elections. If a recall succeeds, the office becomes vacant and is filled under existing vacancy rules: typically a special election for Senate or Assembly seats and gubernatorial appointment for other offices. If the Governor is recalled, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor; if the recall occurs early enough in the term, voters elect a new Governor at a future statewide election, otherwise the Lieutenant Governor serves the rest of the term. Fiscal impact per the Legislative Analyst: net effect unknown; possible state and local savings or costs of millions of dollars per recall election, depending on the office recalled and how often recalls occur.[1][2]
A YES vote means
Recall elections would no longer include a question about who should fill the vacancy. Instead, vacancies typically would be filled through special elections or appointments, depending on the office and timing.
A NO vote means
Voters would continue to be asked who should fill the vacancy as part of recall elections.
The law today
In a recall election of a state official, voters are asked two questions: whether to remove the official and who should replace them; the candidate with the most votes on the second question takes office. Since 1913, 11 state recall efforts have qualified for the ballot (nine legislators and two Governors); six led to removal (five legislators and one Governor). Other vacancies are filled by special election (Assembly and Senate) or gubernatorial appointment (most other offices); the Lieutenant Governor serves as Governor when that office is vacant.[2]
Official fiscal estimate
Per the Legislative Analyst: the net fiscal effect is unknown because it depends on future recalls. Costs could rise if a standalone special election were needed to fill a vacancy (potentially "millions of dollars per election"); savings could result from removing replacement candidates from recall ballots (also potentially millions per election). The range is less than 0.1 percent of the General Fund budget.[2]
Arguments made for
- Official argument in favor, signed by Lorrel Plimier (League of Women Voters of California), Darius L. Kemp (California Common Cause) and Dan Schnur (former Chair, Fair Political Practices Commission): "Proposition 5 makes a single, commonsense change: it removes the second question from the recall ballot."[3]
- Same argument, citing the 2021 gubernatorial recall: "had the recall succeeded, the leading replacement candidate would have taken office with support from only about 28% of all recall voters."[3]
Arguments made against
- Official argument against, signed by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones and Assemblymember Joe Patterson: "Proposition 5 keeps the first part but eliminates your ability to vote for a replacement."[3]
- Same argument: "In many cases, politicians themselves—not voters—would choose who fills the vacancy" and in other cases "the seat would sit vacant until another costly election."[3]
On record in support
Campaign money
Per the Secretary of State's ballot-measure contribution totals, no committees primarily formed to support or oppose Proposition 5 had been identified as of October 6, 2026.[5]
Research notes & limits
All text from the Official Voter Information Guide. Arguments are the authors' opinions and not checked by any agency. The official argument against also makes assertions about the measure's author personally; those are not reproduced here.
Sources · 5
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Proposition 5: Official Title and Summary · California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide (Nov. 3, 2026) · 2026-10-05 Official record
- 2.Proposition 5: Analysis by the Legislative Analyst · California Legislative Analyst's Office, via Official Voter Information Guide · 2026-10-05 Official record
- 3.Proposition 5: Arguments and Rebuttals · California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide · 2026-10-05 Official record
- 4.Proposition 5: Summary and What Your Vote Means · California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide · 2026-10-05 Official record
- 5.Proposition 5: Ballot Measure Total Contributions (through 10/06/2026) · California Secretary of State · 2026-10-19 Official record