Nov. 3, 2026 General Election
Orange County’s 2026 Elections
What’s on Orange County ballots this fall, from county supervisors and city councils to Congress, and what it means for you.
Key dates
Monday
Oct. 5
Ballots mailed; drop boxes open
Monday
Oct. 19
Last day to register
After that, you can still register and vote conditionally through Election Day.
Saturday
Oct. 24
Select vote centers open
Saturday
Oct. 31
All vote centers open
Tuesday
Nov. 3
Election Day
Polls close at 8 p.m.
Latest news
The newest reporting on Orange County’s races and ballot measures, updated as stories publish.
Newport Beach Ballots Shipped Overseas Despite Questions on the Election’s Legality
Despite the unprecedented administrative challenges of hosting an election with little to no help from state and county elections officials, City Attorney Aaron Harp advised council members to move forward…
How Will Newport Beach Leaders Pull Together an Election in 50 Days?
While the first ballots go out on Friday, there are few details available to the public about how…
Newport Beach’s Phantom Election
A split city council moved forward on Friday with hosting an election despite the county elections team refusing…
Orange Explores What to do if Sales Tax Proposal Fails in November
Orange officials want to know what their options are to address their structural budget deficit if two tax…
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What’s on your ballot
Supervisors
Five supervisors run Orange County’s government, setting a multibillion-dollar budget and overseeing the sheriff, public health and social services for more than 3 million residents.
Democrats Pull Ahead in Orange County Supervisor Races
While both candidates lagged behind their Republican competitors for a few days, as of June 10, they were in the lead heading to the November runoff election.
Will OC Supervisor Katrina Foley Hang Onto Her Seat?
While Foley claimed before the election she was on track to win, she’s still lagging behind one of…
Is an Incumbent on the OC Board of Supervisors Going to Lose Reelection?
It’s unclear if Democrats will be able to maintain their majority on the board with at least two…
Santana: Are Republicans Poised to Retake OC Board of Supervisors?
Primary election returns put OC Republicans on top in two of three county supervisors races along with every…
Ballot measures
Measures ask voters to decide directly on taxes, housing, term limits and how local government works. Many are city-specific, so what’s on your ballot depends on where you live.
Election 2026: OC Cities Ask for Tax Increases, Term Limits and More
Over a dozen local ballot initiatives qualified for the November ballot this year, with most of them aimed at increasing local taxes to help patch budget problems.
OC Election’s Chief Rejects Newport Beach Initiatives Ordered by Judge
It’s now unclear when Newport Beach voters could vote on a series of initiatives aimed at expanding transparency,…
OC Judge Forces Newport Beach Leaders to Put Charter Reforms On November Ballot
Newport Beach voters now could vote on four initiatives that would reshape the city charter to expand transparency,…
Judge Orders Newport Beach to Move Forward with Ballot Initiatives
The four ballot initiatives have the power to reshape how much control city leaders have over housing and…
The Morning Report
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From what’s on your ballot to who’s running and who’s paying for it, it’s all covered in our free newsletter. Before, during and after Election Day.
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City races
Orange County’s 34 cities elect their own councils, and some elect mayors directly. These are the people deciding on housing, policing, parks and local taxes.
Can Democrats Retake Huntington Beach City Council Using Republicans’ Strategy?
Huntington Beach’s Democrats are running as a slate this year, while the Republican Party’s candidates are a little more fractured over what direction to go.
Brea Bumps Up Political Donation Limits Ahead of Election
Brea City Council members new donation limit now allows contributions of up to $5,900 ahead of November’s election.…
Recall Efforts, A Failed Sales Tax Proposal, An Ongoing Deficit: Fullerton’s Wild Ride
Fullerton leaders are struggling to balance the city’s budget amid a series of problems with their roads and…
OC Judge Orders Huntington Beach to Switch to a New Election System
The shift could make Huntington Beach the first city to use ranked choice voting in Orange County.
Orange County voters help choose members of the state Assembly and Senate, along with the governor and other statewide offices.
Two Santa Ana Councilmembers Could Face Off in November Assembly Race
As ballots continue to be counted, two Santa Ana City Council members are poised to face off in November for a seat on the State Assembly in a tight race.
Who Will Advance to November in the 67th State Assembly District Race?
Voters will narrow down the two candidates who will face off to represent residents in a Northern part…
Who Will be in the Running to Represent The Heart of OC at The State Assembly?
Voters will narrow down the two candidates who will go head to head this November to represent residents…
Primary Election Night Results: California Senate District 34
Democratic candidate and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia was leading the state senate race on Tuesday night after initial vote…
Congress
Orange County is split among several U.S. House districts, and its seats have drawn national attention in recent elections.
2026 Primary Election Night Results: 40th Congressional District
Voters in an eastern part of Orange County and a large chunk of Riverside County will elect a member of congress to represent the newly drawn 40th congressional district this…
