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Statewide constitutional office

Secretary of State of California

This durable statewide office administers California's statewide elections and maintains major business, campaign, lobbying, notary, and archival records.

View the latest election
Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California Secretary of State
Electoral area
California statewide
Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewide
i
Reviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California
Contest typeVoter-nominatedCalifornia top-two primary
SeatStatewide officeOne of California's eight statewide constitutional offices
Regular term4 yearsRegular term; next election is 2026; no one may serve more than two terms in this office

What this office does

Serves as California's chief elections officer and record keeper

The Secretary of State administers statewide elections, maintains business and political-disclosure filings, commissions notaries, operates public registries, and safeguards the State Archives.

California Secretary of State

Election process

A statewide top-two election every four years

All voters receive the same voter-nominated candidate list. The top two primary finishers advance regardless of party preference, and the general-election winner serves a four-year term.

Next electionNovember 3, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page
California statewide statisticsJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures

These statewide measures describe the shared electoral area for all eight California constitutional offices. They do not describe an officeholder's performance. QuickFacts combines the latest available population estimate with 2020–2024 Census measures, so each row retains its own period note.

People and households

Population
39,355,309July 1, 2025 estimate
Persons per household
2.842020–2024
Foreign-born residents
27.0%Share of residents; 2020–2024

Income and education

Median household income
$99,1222024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People in poverty
11.8%2020–2024
Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%Population age 25+; 2020–2024

Housing

Housing units
14,995,410July 1, 2025 estimate
Homeownership rate
55.9%Occupied housing units; 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$2,036Monthly; 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

The official Secretary of State website and California Roster identify Shirley N. Weber as California's current Secretary of State.

Past officeholders32 verified succession records

Succession history

Explore prior service

All prior officeholders listed in the 2026 California Roster.

A displayed end boundary is the date on which the next listed officeholder assumed office; it is not independently asserted as the prior officeholder's final day.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewideReviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Reviewed electoral area

California

Voters in all 58 California counties elect this officeholder to one statewide office.

A reviewed static map is shown while a reliable interactive boundary remains unavailable.

Open the Location Page

Past elections

Election history

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

Election archive

November 8, 2022 · Secretary of State of California page not yet published

The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

Elections

California election results and voter information

Open statewide election calendars, results, voter guides, registration information, and voting-system records.

Open official record

Business records

bizfile Online

Search and file California business entity, trademark, and Uniform Commercial Code records.

Open official record

State archives

California State Archives

Browse services and collections preserving California's permanent government records.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

Official portrait of Shirley N. Weber
California Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
Official update

Secretary Weber announces randomized alphabet drawing for the November 3, 2026 general election

The Secretary of State announced the randomized alphabet used to determine candidate-name order for the November statewide general election.

California Secretary of StateRead official update
Official portrait of Shirley N. Weber
California Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
Official update

Statewide Voter Information Guide for the November election is available for public review

The Secretary of State announced the public-review version of California's November 3, 2026 Statewide Voter Information Guide.

California Secretary of StateRead official update
Official portrait of Shirley N. Weber
California Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
Official update

Secretary Weber responds to election-fraud claims about California

The Secretary of State issued a statement addressing claims about California elections and the state's voter-registration safeguards.

California Secretary of StateRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentStrong coverage

The office identity, current officeholder and contact, verified succession chronology, California-wide electoral area and statistics, connected 2026 election, official records, related statewide offices, three current official publications, and source trail are included.

Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 records

The 2018 and 2022 Election Pages, complete historical portrait coverage, compensation, additional succession context, and full visual and accessibility release review remain incomplete.

Sources used on this page14 source organizations · 36 records
Official candidate source

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Candidate list and ballot informationhttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/55-sos.xlsx
U.S. Census Bureau state boundary

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for State of Californiahttps://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/USLandmass/MapServer/0
California Secretary of State

12 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/about-agency/The official Secretary of State website and California Roster identify Shirley N. Weber as California's current Secretary of State.https://www.sos.ca.gov/contact-informationPortrait source page for Shirley N. Weberhttps://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/aboutCalifornia election results and voter informationhttps://www.sos.ca.gov/electionsbizfile Onlinehttps://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/California State Archiveshttps://www.sos.ca.gov/archivesOfficial update: Secretary Weber announces randomized alphabet drawing for the November 3, 2026 general electionhttps://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2026-news-releases-and-advisories/california-secretary-state-shirley-n-weber-phd-announces-randomized-alphabet-drawing-november-3-2026-general-electionOfficial update: Statewide Voter Information Guide for the November election is available for public reviewhttps://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2026-news-releases-and-advisories/california-secretary-state-shirley-n-weber-phd-announces-statewide-voter-information-guide-november-3-2026-general-election-avaiOfficial update: Secretary Weber responds to election-fraud claims about Californiahttps://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2026-news-releases-and-advisories/california-secretary-state-shirley-n-weber-phd-sets-record-straight-about-president-trumps-fallacious-election-fraud-claimsCalifornia Roster source for the eight current statewide constitutional officers and their office contact information.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-rosterOfficial explanation of California voter-nominated and nonpartisan primary election rules.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-californiaOfficial publication archive used to review current News items.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2026-news-releases-and-advisories
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

1 record from this source is used on the page.

July 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures detailed district statisticshttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045225
California Secretary of State · 2026 History of California Constitutional Officeholders

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for Secretary of State of Californiahttps://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ca-roster/2026/history-of-officers.pdf
U.S. Senate Photographic Studio

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Alex Padilla · United States Senate Photographic Studio · Public domain (U.S. government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alex_Padilla_117th_Congress_portrait.jpg
California Secretary of State via Wikimedia Commons

2 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Debra Bowen · Government of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Debra_Bowen_op.pngReviewed photograph for Bill Jones · Secretary of State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_Jones_full_portrait,_1995_(cropped).jpg
Santa Cruz County via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Bruce McPherson · Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruce_McPherson,_2016.jpg
California State Assembly via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Kevin Shelley · California State Assembly · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SHELLEY_C_12JUN99_MN_NW_(cropped).jpg
California State Archives via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for March Fong Eu · California State Archives · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:March_Fong_Eu.jpg
California Attorney General's Office via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Edmund G. Brown, Jr. · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_G_Brown_Jr.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

11 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Frank M. Jordan · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_C._Jordan_Edit.jpgReviewed photograph for Paul Peek · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Peek,_1942.jpgReviewed photograph for Frank C. Jordan · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_M._Jordan,_1967.jpgReviewed photograph for Charles F. Curry · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_F._Curry_-_Clara_Barton_Centenary.jpgReviewed photograph for Lewis H. Brown · UnknownUnknown · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lewis_Henry_Brown_Crop.pngReviewed photograph for Thomas L. Thompson · Unknown authorUnknown author · CC0 1.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ThomasLarkinThompson.jpgReviewed photograph for Daniel M. Burns · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Col._Daniel_M._Burns_1892_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Drury Melone · I. W. Taber · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drury_Melone_Taber_Portrait_Edit.jpgReviewed photograph for H.L. Nichols · Internet Archive Book Images · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1855-1857-_History_of_the_Medical_Society_of_the_District_of_Columbia,_1817-1909_(1909)_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for David F. Douglass · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_F._Douglass.jpgReviewed photograph for James W. Denver · Unknown photographer · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pd_james_w_denver.jpg
California Legislative Information

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California Constitution Article V source for executive powers, statewide election timing, terms, and term limits.https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=V&chapter=&division=&lawCode=CONS&part=&title=
U.S. Census Bureau

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State cartographic boundary source underlying the static California map treatment.https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.html
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