AB-868
Government Operations

Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a top-two primary system for county nonpartisan offices like district attorney and sheriff.
  • Aligns district attorney and sheriff elections with presidential election cycles.
  • Requires counties to hold general elections even if candidates receive majority votes in primaries.
  • Allows write-in candidates on general election ballots for county offices.
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Summary

Assembly Member Carrillo's elections reform measure would modify how California counties conduct primary and general elections for nonpartisan offices, establishing separate processes for county positions versus other nonpartisan roles. The legislation creates a mandatory top-two primary system for county offices, requiring the two candidates receiving the most votes to advance to the general election regardless of primary vote margins.

The bill aligns election timing with presidential election cycles, scheduling district attorney and sheriff races during presidential primaries. Other county officer elections would coincide with gubernatorial primaries, though county boards of supervisors could opt to hold them during presidential primaries instead. These timing requirements would apply to both general law and charter counties, except charter counties that specified different election schedules before January 1, 2021.

For races with two or fewer qualified candidates, the primary election would be canceled and candidates would proceed directly to the general election. The measure preserves write-in candidacy opportunities and maintains existing nomination processes for non-county positions like city offices and school districts. Counties would receive state reimbursement for any additional costs incurred from implementing the new requirements, as determined by the Commission on State Mandates.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Juan Carrillo
Juan CarrilloD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Eloise Reyes
Eloise ReyesD
California State Senator
Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin ArambulaD
California State Assembly Member
David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member
Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member
Anamarie Farias
Anamarie FariasD
California State Assembly Member

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Elections
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Elections
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 444
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Steve BennettD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Steve BennettD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Juan CarrilloD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assembly Member
Committee Member

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a top-two primary system for county nonpartisan offices like district attorney and sheriff.
  • Aligns district attorney and sheriff elections with presidential election cycles.
  • Requires counties to hold general elections even if candidates receive majority votes in primaries.
  • Allows write-in candidates on general election ballots for county offices.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Juan Carrillo
Juan CarrilloD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Eloise Reyes
Eloise ReyesD
California State Senator
Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin ArambulaD
California State Assembly Member
David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member
Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member
Anamarie Farias
Anamarie FariasD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Carrillo's elections reform measure would modify how California counties conduct primary and general elections for nonpartisan offices, establishing separate processes for county positions versus other nonpartisan roles. The legislation creates a mandatory top-two primary system for county offices, requiring the two candidates receiving the most votes to advance to the general election regardless of primary vote margins.

The bill aligns election timing with presidential election cycles, scheduling district attorney and sheriff races during presidential primaries. Other county officer elections would coincide with gubernatorial primaries, though county boards of supervisors could opt to hold them during presidential primaries instead. These timing requirements would apply to both general law and charter counties, except charter counties that specified different election schedules before January 1, 2021.

For races with two or fewer qualified candidates, the primary election would be canceled and candidates would proceed directly to the general election. The measure preserves write-in candidacy opportunities and maintains existing nomination processes for non-county positions like city offices and school districts. Counties would receive state reimbursement for any additional costs incurred from implementing the new requirements, as determined by the Commission on State Mandates.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Elections
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Elections
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 444
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Steve BennettD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Marc BermanD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Steve BennettD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Juan CarrilloD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assembly Member
Committee Member