VOTER GUIDE
2026
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
FIONA MA (D) ENDORSED BY CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
BEN ALLEN (D) ENDORSED BY CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
Treasurer Fiona Ma, California’s “Urban Cowgirl,” has visited 150 farms and received the California Farm Bureau’s endorsement. In July 2024, she co-founded the San Francisco Farm Bureau,
California farmers and ranchers are getting squeezed—premiums climbing, policies canceled, coverage harder to find. As Insurance Commissioner, Ben Allen will fight to lower costs, hold insurers
California’s 54th chapter, to educate San Franciscans, connect them with farmers and ranchers, and keep producing the freshest, most trusted and tastiest food.
accountable and fix a broken system that’s failing California. His opponent wants a new government-run insurance program that will increase costs and bureaucracy. STATE ASSEMBLY & SENATE ENDORSEMENTS ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 27 Brian Pacheco (D) ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 36 Jeff Gonzalez (R) SENATE DISTRICT 4 Alexandra Duarte (R) SENATE DISTRICT 14 Esmeralda Soria (D)
US CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
HOUSE DISTRICT 4 Mike Thompson (D) HOUSE DISTRICT 13 Adam Gray (D) HOUSE DISTRICT 21 Jim Costa (D)
HOUSE DISTRICT 22 David Valadao (R) HOUSE DISTRICT 48 Jim Desmond (R)
For non-endorsed races, California Farm Bureau asked why should Farm Bureau members vote for you? Their responses are printed below.
GOVERNOR
STEVEN HILTON (R) California’s farmers and ranchers feed America. But one-party rule is crushing them with man-made water scarcity, soaring fuel and energy costs, and endless regulations. As governor, I’ll protect water rights, expand water storage, rein in CARB, cut costs, scrap
XAVIER BECERRA (D) Carolina and I are children of the Valley—a farmworker’s daughter, a road builder’s son. I know what agriculture means to California and our economy. As governor, I’ll deliver water certainty, regulatory relief, and make sure farmers—and farm workers—prosper.
ridiculous regulations and let farmers and ranchers get on with farming.
SECRETARY OF STATE
DONALD P. WAGNER (R) The strength of California is its people—growing food, creating energy, running businesses. Sacramento fails them. I will work daily for good legislation that helps farmers and businesses, and to restore electoral integrity. Every eligible person should
DR. SHIRLEY WEBER (D) Many Farm Bureau priorities run through the Secretary of State’s office: most ag workers run their own small businesses. As SoS, I’ve streamlined the business registration process with a new online portal. Additionally, vote by mail is useful for those of us
vote—but no ineligible voter should have a ballot.
who live in rural parts of the state.
CONTROLLER
HERB MORGAN (R) California agriculture deserves a Controller who understands that every wasted tax dollar makes it harder to invest in water, infrastructure, and thriving rural communities. I’ll bring Radical Transparency to Sacramento, exposing waste, fraud, and inefficiency
MALIA COHEN (D) California’s farmers and ranchers feed our nation and the world, and your success matters to California’s success. As Controller, I’m focused on the issues that matter to you—from property taxes, water and agricultural land to fuel-tax refunds, rural infrastructure
while protecting taxpayers and ensuring California’s resources support the farmers, families, and communities that feed America. Learn more at HerbMorgan.com
and keeping California’s finances strong. I’m honored to be your partner.
TREASURER
JENNIFER HAWKS (R) California farmers feed our families and drive our economy, yet rising costs, water uncertainty, regulations, and taxes threaten their future. As State Treasurer, I will bring business discipline, accountability, and transparency to Sacramento, protect taxpayer dollars, support critical water infrastructure, and ensure California agriculture has a strong financial advocate.
ELENI KOUNALAKIS (D) I grew up in rural Sacramento County, surrounded by farms and agricultural land, so I understand agriculture’s importance to our communities and economy. As Treasurer, I’ll fight for the water storage and infrastructure agriculture needs, advocate for California
farmers in global markets, and ensure their voices are heard in Sacramento.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
MICHAEL GATES (R) Michael Gates understands that California agriculture thrives when farmers, ranchers and rural communities have a voice, not another mandate from Sacramento. As Attorney General, he will defend local control, protect property rights, support law enforcement, fight regulatory overreach and ensure California’s agricultural communities have an advocate who respects their livelihoods.
ROB BONTA (D) Our farmers feed the nation and anchor our rural economies, and they deserve certainty—in their markets, their supply chains, and their bottom lines. It’s why I went to court as Attorney General to stop the illegal tariffs squeezing our growers, and it’s why I’ll
always stand up for California agriculture.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
SONJA SHAW (NON-PARTISAN) Agriculture needs skilled workers, not just four-year degrees. I will strengthen post-high school career and technical pathways to develop talent in rural and agricultural trades, and I will fight one-size-fits-all state mandates that burden rural school districts
RICHARD BARRERA (NON-PARTISAN) No candidate statement was provided by the publication deadline.
and ignore the realities that families in ag country live every day.
October 7, 2026 Ag Alert 13
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