Cities in California

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Municipal government
Top counties
Top 100 cities by population

Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in the 100 largest cities in America by population and the largest counties that overlap those cities. This encompasses all city, county, judicial, school district, and special district offices appearing on the ballot within those cities. Ballotpedia also covers mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in all state capitals.

This page includes the following resources:

* The city governments covered by Ballotpedia in California
* An overview of local elections in California
* An overview of the initiative process in California

## Contents

* 1 Cities
* 1.1 City government
* 2 Elections
* 2.1 2026
* 2.2 2025
* 2.3 2024
* 2.4 2023
* 2.5 2022
* 2.6 2021
* 2.7 2020
* 2.8 2019
* 2.9 2018
* 2.10 2017
* 2.11 2016
* 2.12 2015
* 3 Initiative process availability
* 4 See also
* 5 External links
* 6 Footnotes

## Cities[edit]

### City government[edit]

Click the links in the table below for information about the cities in Ballotpedia's coverage scope and the county governments that overlap those cities:

City | County

|

Anaheim | Orange County
Bakersfield | Kern County
Chula Vista | San Diego County
Fremont | Alameda County
Fresno | Fresno County
Irvine | Orange County
Long Beach | Los Angeles County
Los Angeles | Los Angeles County
Oakland | Alameda County
Riverside | Riverside County
Sacramento | Sacramento County
Santa Ana | Orange County
San Bernardino | San Bernardino County
San Diego | San Diego County
San Jose | San Francisco County
San Jose | Santa Clara County
Santa Clarita | Los Angeles County
Stockton | San Joaquin County

According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 57 counties, 482 cities, towns, and villages, and 2,949 special districts.[1]

San Francisco is a consolidated city-county government, exercising powers and responsibilities of both forms of government.

## Elections[edit]

Click the links below for information about the elections held in each municipality. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of municipalities that held elections each year in this state; click here to learn more about Ballotpedia's local government coverage scope.

### 2026[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2026 and School board elections, 2026

* Anaheim, California \- Mayor and city council
* Bakersfield, California \- City council
* Chula Vista, California \- Mayor, city attorney, and city council
* Fremont, California \- City council
* Fresno, California \- City council
* Irvine, California \- Mayor and city council
* Long Beach, California \- Mayor, city attorney, city auditor, city prosecutor, and city council
* Los Angeles, California \- Mayor, city attorney, city controller, and city council
* Oakland, California \- Mayor, city auditor, and city council
* Riverside, California \- City council
* Sacramento, California \- City council
* San Bernardino, California \- Mayor and city council
* San Diego, California \- City council
* San Francisco, California \- Assessor-recorder, public defender, board of supervisors, community college board, BART board, superior court judges
* San Jose, California \- City council
* Santa Ana, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Clarita, California \- City council
* Stockton, California \- City council
* Alameda County, California \- Assessor, auditor-controller, district attorney (special), county superintendent, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college board, flood control board, health care district board, sanitary district board, transit district board, utility district board, water district board, superior court judges
* Fresno County, California \- Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector, county clerk/registrar of voters, county superintendent of schools, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, irrigation district board, recreation and park district board, public utility district board, veterans memorial district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* Kern County, California \- Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller-county clerk, county superindent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, community services district board, water agency board, and superior court judges
* Los Angeles County, California \- Assessor, sheriff, board of supervisors, community college district board, municipal water district board, water agency board, water district board, water replenishment district board, and superior court judges
* Orange County, California \- Assessor, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, municipal water district board, geologic hazard abatement district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* Riverside County, California \- Assessor-clerk-recorder, auditor-controller, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, community college board, community services district board, county board of education, sanitary district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* Sacramento County, California \- Assessor, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, flood control district board, metropolitan fire district board, municipal utility district board, suburban water district board, and superior court judges
* San Bernardino County, California \- Assessor-recorder-clerk, auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, county superintendent of schools, district attorney, sheriff/coroner/public administrator, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, municipal water district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* San Diego County, California \- Assessor-recorder-clerk, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, healthcare district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* San Joaquin County, California \- Assessor-recorder-county clerk, auditor-controller, treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, fire protection district board, irrigation district board, water district board, and superior court judges
* Santa Clara County, California \- Assessor, district attorney, sheriff, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, geologic hazard abatement district board, open space authority board, water district board, and superior court judges
* All local elections by county

* California school board elections

### 2025[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2025 and School board elections, 2025

* Fresno, California \- City council (special)
* Irvine, California \- City council (special)
* Oakland, California \- Mayor and city council (special)
* San Jose, California \- City council (special)
* San Diego County, California \- County board of supervisors (special)
* Santa Clara County, California \- Assessor (special)
* All local elections by county
* California school board elections

### 2024[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2024 and School board elections, 2024

* Anaheim, California \- City council
* Bakersfield, California \- Mayor and city council
* Chula Vista, California \- City council
* Fremont, California \- Mayor and city council
* Fresno, California \- Mayor and city council
* Irvine, California \- Mayor and city council
* Long Beach, California \- City council
* Los Angeles, California \- City council
* Oakland, California \- City council
* Riverside, California \- Mayor and city council
* Sacramento, California \- Mayor and city council
* San Bernardino, California \- City council
* San Diego, California \- Mayor, city attorney, and city council
* San Francisco, California \- Mayor, city attorney, district attorney, sheriff, treasurer, board of supervisors, community college district, transit district, and superior court judges
* San Jose, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Ana, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Clarita, California \- City council
* Stockton, California \- Mayor and city council
* Alameda County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, county board of education, flood district, health care district, park district, sanitary district, transit districts, utility district, water district, and superior court judges
* Fresno County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, county board of education, irrigation district, public utility district, recreation and park district, veterans memorial district, water district, and superior court judges
* Kern County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, community services district, county board of education, water district, and superior court judges
* Los Angeles County, California \- District attorney, board of supervisors, community college districts, water districts, and superior court judges
* Orange County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college districts, county board of education, geological hazard abatement district, water districts, and superior court judges
* Riverside County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, community services district, county board of education, sanitary district, water district, and superior court judges
* Sacramento County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, county board of education, fire district, flood district, water districts, and superior court judges
* San Bernardino County, California \- Assessor-Recorder-Clerk, board of supervisors, community college districts, county board of education, water districts, and superior court judges
* San Diego County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college districts, county board of education, health care districts, irrigation district, water district, and superior court judges
* San Joaquin County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college district, county board of education, fire district, irrigation district, water district, and superior court judges
* Santa Clara County, California \- Board of supervisors, community college districts, county board of education, geological hazard abatement district, open space authority district, water district, and superior court judges
* All other local elections by county
* California school board elections

### 2023[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2023 and School board elections, 2023

* Chula Vista, California \- City attorney (special)
* Los Angeles, California \- City council (special)
* San Diego County, California \- County board of supervisors (special)
* Santa Clara County, California \- Community college district board (special)

### 2022[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2022 and School board elections, 2022

* Anaheim, California \- Mayor and city council
* Bakersfield, California \- City council
* Chula Vista, California \- Mayor, city attorney, and city council
* Fremont, California \- City council
* Fresno, California \- City council
* Irvine, California \- Mayor and city council
* Long Beach, California \- Mayor, city attorney, city auditor, city prosecutor, and city council
* Los Angeles, California \- Mayor, city attorney, city controller, and city council
* Oakland, California \- Mayor, city auditor, and city council
* Sacramento, California \- City council
* San Bernardino, California \- Mayor and city council
* San Diego, California \- City council
* San Francisco, California \- Assessor-recorder (regular & special), city attorney (special), district attorney (special), public defender, board of supervisors, community college board, BART director, and superior court judges
* San Jose, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Ana, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Clarita, California \- City council
* Stockton, California \- City council
* Alameda County, California \- Assessor, auditor/controller, district attorney, sheriff/coroner, treasurer/tax collector, superintendent of schools, board of supervisors, county board of education, Union Sanitary District, flood control board, AC Transit District board of directors, water district board, BART board, park district board, municipal utility district, healthcare district board, community college district boards, and superior court judges
* Fresno County, California \- Assessor-recorder, auditor, controller/treasurer-tax collector, clerk/registrar of voters, district attorney, sheriff coroner public administrator, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, irrigation district board, recreation district board, memorial district board, water district board, utility district board, and superior court judges
* Kern County, California \- Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller-county clerk, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, county water agency board, community services district board, and superior court judges
* Los Angeles County, California \- Assessor, sheriff, county supervisor, water district board, water replenishment district board, water agency board, community college districts, and superior court judges
* Orange County, California \- Assessor, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, district attorney-public administrator, sheriff-coroner, treasurer-tax collector, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college boards, water district boards, hazard abatement board, and superior court judges
* Riverside County, California \- Assessor-county clerk-recorder, auditor-controller, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, community services district board, sanitary district board, water district board (regular & special), and superior court judges
* Sacramento County, California \- Assessor, district attorney, sheriff, county board of supervisors, county board of education, water district boards, flood control district board, community college district board, municipal utility district board, fire district board, and superior court judges
* San Bernardino County, California \- Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, sheriff/coroner/public administrator, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district boards, water district board, and superior court judges
* San Diego County, California \- Assessor/recorder/county clerk, district attorney, sheriff, treasurer/tax collector, county board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, municipal water district board, healthcare district boards, and superior court judges
* San Joaquin County, California \- Assessor-recorder-clerk, auditor-controller, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, county supervisors, community college board, irrigation district, water district board, fire district board, and superior court judges
* Santa Clara County, California \- Assessor, district attorney, sheriff, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district boards, water district board, geologic hazard abatement district board, open space authority board, and superior court judges
* California school board elections

### 2021[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2021 and School board elections, 2021

* Riverside, California \- City council
* Orange County, California \- Board of supervisors (special)

### 2020[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2020 and School board elections, 2020

* Anaheim, California \- City council
* Bakersfield, California \- Mayor, city council
* Chula Vista, California \- City council
* Fremont, California \- Mayor, city council
* Fresno, California \- Mayor, city council
* Irvine, California \- Mayor, city council
* Long Beach, California \- City council
* Los Angeles, California \- City council
* Oakland, California \- City council, city attorney
* Riverside, California \- Mayor
* Sacramento, California \- Mayor, city council
* San Bernardino, California \- City council
* San Diego, California \- Mayor, city council, city attorney
* San Francisco, California \- BART board districts, superior court judgeships, board of education, community college board, board of supervisors
* San Jose, California \- City council
* Santa Ana, California \- Mayor, city council
* Stockton, California \- Mayor, city council
* Alameda County, California \- Supervisors, superior court seats, county board of education, AC Transit District board, Alameda County Flood Control Board/Zone 7 Water Agency, Union Sanitary District board, Alameda County Water District board, Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) board, East Bay Regional Park District board, East Bay Municipal Utility District board, and Washington Township Healthcare District board
* Fresno County, California \- Board of supervisors, judgeships, county board of education, irrigation district board, community college district board, park district board, memorial district board, water district board, and public utility district board
* Kern County, California \- Board of supervisors, county supervisors, superior court judgeships, county board of education, East Niles Community Services District board, Kern Community College District board, and Kern County Water Agency board
* Los Angeles County, California \- County supervisors, district attorney, superior court judges, community college districts, and water districts
* Orange County, California \- Board of supervisors, board of education trustees, superior court judge, community college districts, water districts, and hazard abatement district
* Riverside County, California \- County supervisors, county board of education, superior court judgeships, Riverside Community College District, Western Municipal Water District, and Edgemont Community Services District
* Sacramento County, California \- Board of supervisors, county board of education, superior court judgeships, community college district, municipal utility district, water districts, fire district, and flood control district
* San Bernardino County, California \- Board of supervisors, superior court judgeships, county board of education, water districts, and college districts
* San Diego County, California \- Board of supervisors, county board of education, college districts, irrigation district, water district, healthcare districts, and superior court judges
* San Joaquin County, California \- County supervisors, county board of education, superior court offices, superior court judgeships, community college district, irrigation district, fire protection district, and water district
* Santa Clara County, California \- County board of supervisors, superior court judges, county board of education, community college districts, special districts, and water district
* California school board elections

Past elections

### 2019

See also: United States municipal elections, 2019 and School board elections, 2019

* Fresno, California \- City council (special election)
* Long Beach, California \- City council (special election)
* Los Angeles, California \- City council (special election)
* Riverside, California \- City council
* San Bernardino, California \- City council (special election)
* San Francisco, California \- Mayor, board of supervisors, city attorney, district attorney, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, and a community college district
* Santa Ana, California \- City council (special election)
* Fresno County, California \- Board of supervisors
* Los Angeles County, California \- County water districts
* Orange County, California \- Board of supervisors
* Riverside County, California \- Home Gardens Sanitary District board
* California school board elections

### 2018

See also: United States municipal elections, 2018 and School board elections, 2018

* Anaheim, California \- Mayor and city council
* Bakersfield, California \- City council
* Chula Vista, California \- Mayor, city council, and city attorney
* Fremont, California \- City council
* Fresno, California \- City council
* Irvine, California \- Mayor and city council
* Long Beach, California \- Mayor, city council, city attorney, city auditor, and city prosecutor
* Oakland, California \- Mayor, city council, and auditor
* Sacramento, California \- City council
* San Bernardino, California \- Mayor and city council
* San Diego, California \- City council
* San Francisco, California \- Mayor, board of supervisors, city assessor-recorder, public defender, county board of education members, superior court judge, and seats on the college board
* San Jose, California \- Mayor and city council
* Santa Ana, California \- Mayor and city council
* Stockton, California \- City council
* Alameda County, California \- County board of supervisors, County board of education, flood control board of directors, County superintendent of schools, County assessor, County auditor-controller/clerk recorder, District attorney, County sheriff/coroner, County treasurer-tax collector, Superior court judges, community college boards, Union Sanitary District, Water District directors, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) directors, East Bay Municipal Utility District board, Washington Township Healthcare District board, and East Bay Regional Park District board
* Fresno County, California \- County clerk, county board of supervisors, county assessor recorder, county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector, district attorney-public administrator, county sheriff-coroner, county superintendent of schools, superior court judges, irrigation district board, community college district board, park district board, memorial district board, water district board, and public utility district board
* Kern County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor-recorder, county auditor-controller-county clerk, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, superior court judges, county board of education, community college district governing board, water agency board, and community services district board
* Los Angeles County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor, county sheriff, college district governing board, water district boards, and superior court judges
* Orange County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor, county auditor-controller, district attorney-public administrator, county sheriff-coroner, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, county clerk-recorder, college district boards, water district boards, hazard abatement district, and superior court judges
* Riverside County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor-clerk-recorder, county auditor-controller, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, county board of education, water district board, college district board, and superior court judges
* Sacramento County, California \- County board of supervisors, county board of education, county assessor, county sheriff, district attorney, fire district board, utility district board, water district boards, flood control district board, college district trustees, and superior court judges
* San Bernardino County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor/recorder, county auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff/coroner/public administrator, county superintendent of schools, college district board members, water district board members, and superior court judges
* San Diego County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor/recorder/county clerk, county treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff, county board of education members, college district members, irrigation district board members, water district members, health care district members, and superior court judges
* San Joaquin County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor-recorder-clerk, county treasurer-tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county board of education, county auditor-controller, county superintendent of schools, water district board, college district board, irrigation district board, fire protection district board, and superior court judges
* Santa Clara County, California \- County board of supervisors, county assessor, county sheriff, district attorney, superior court judges, county board of education, college district boards, water district board, and special districts
* California school board elections

### 2017

See also: United States municipal elections, 2017 and School board elections, 2017

* Bakersfield, California
* Los Angeles, California
* Riverside, California
* California school board elections

### 2016

See also: United States municipal elections, 2016 and School board elections, 2016

* Anaheim, California
* Bakersfield, California
* Chula Vista, California
* Fremont, California
* Fresno, California
* Irvine, California
* Long Beach, California
* Oakland, California
* Riverside, California
* Sacramento, California
* San Diego, California
* San Francisco, California
* San Jose, California
* Santa Ana, California
* Stockton, California
* Los Angeles County, California
* Orange County, California
* Sacramento County, California
* San Diego County, California
* California school board elections

### 2015

See also: United States municipal elections, 2015 and School board elections, 2015

* Long Beach, California
* Los Angeles, California
* Riverside, California
* Sacramento, California
* San Francisco, California
* San Jose, California
* California school board elections

## Initiative process availability[edit]

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

The local units of government in California that make the initiative process available are:

* All 361 general law cities, which have a state mandated initiative and referendum process for ordinances.
* All 121 charter cities, which have a state mandated initiative and referendum process for charter amendments.
* All 44 general law counties, which have a state mandated initiative and referendum process for ordinances.
* All 14 charter counties, which have a state mandated initiative and referendum process.[2]

## See also[edit]

California | Municipal government | Other local coverage

|
|

* California
* California elections, 2026
* Public policy in California
* Endorsers in California

* Top counties
* 100 largest cities
* Current mayors
* Current council officials

* 2026 municipal elections
* School board elections, 2026
* Local ballot measure elections in 2026
* 2026 local judicial elections

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* California municipal code library
* California state government website

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2022 Census of Governments – Organization," accessed October 16, 2023
2. ↑ Ballotpedia, "Types and #'s of local government by state," September 1, 2012

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