Proposition 5
Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers
On the ballot
California · November 2026 general election · Constitutional amendment · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Elections and voting, Government structure
In plain language
Proposition 5 would remove the replacement question from recall elections for state officers. Voters currently answer two questions at once: whether to remove the officer, and who should replace them. Under the measure, voters would decide only whether to remove the officer. If a Governor were recalled, the Lieutenant Governor would become Governor for the rest of the term or until a successor is elected. Other recalled offices would stay vacant until filled by a later special election or by appointment under existing law. A recalled officer could run in a special election for the same office. The Legislature placed it on the ballot through Senate Constitutional Amendment 1.
Fiscal impact
Legislative Analyst's Office summary of the estimate of net state and local government fiscal impact: "Net fiscal effect unknown. Possible state and local government savings or costs of millions of dollars to administer recall elections. These costs or savings would be rare, and depend on the office recalled and how often recalls occur."
Summarized from the official fiscal analysis listed in the sources below. Figures are the state's, not this site's.
What supporters and opponents say
These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.
What supporters say
- The ballot argument signed by Lorrel Plimier (League of Women Voters of California), Darius L. Kemp (California Common Cause), and Dan Schnur (former chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission) says removing the second question would prevent a replacement candidate from taking office without majority support.
- Supporters state in the official argument that most states with recalls already fill vacancies by succession or a separate election rather than a same-day replacement contest.
What opponents say
- The ballot argument signed by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones and Assemblymember Joe Patterson says the measure takes away half of the recall right by letting voters remove an official without choosing the successor.
- Opponents state in the official argument that a separate replacement election would be paid for by taxpayers and could let the recalled officeholder run again to regain the seat.
Reproduced verbatim from the state's certified ballot text.
Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. Official title and summary prepared by the Attorney General: • 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.
Sources
Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.
- California Secretary of State — Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures
- California Official Voter Information Guide — Proposition 5 (title, summary, Legislative Analyst's analysis, and arguments)
- California Legislative Analyst's Office — Proposition 5 (2026): Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers
Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.