CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Constitutional Amendment
No. 23

Introduced by Assembly Members Johnson and Hoover

August 10, 2026

A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 6 of Article II thereof, relating to elections.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


ACA 23, as introduced, Johnson. Secretary of State: nonpartisan office.
The California Constitution establishes the office of Secretary of State and requires that the Secretary of State be elected at the same time and place and for the same term as the Governor. The California Constitution provides that all judicial, school, county, and city offices, and the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, are nonpartisan. The California Constitution prohibits a political party or party central committee from nominating a candidate for nonpartisan office, and prohibits the candidate’s party preference from being included on the ballot.
This measure would additionally provide that the office of Secretary of State is a nonpartisan office.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  
Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2025–26 Regular Session, commencing on the second day of December 2024, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows:

 That Section 6 of Article II thereof is amended to read:

SEC. 6.
 (a) All judicial, school, county, and city offices, including the Superintendent of Public Instruction, The following offices shall be nonpartisan. nonpartisan:
(1) All judicial, school, county, and city offices.
(2) Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(3) Secretary of State.
(b) A political party or party central committee shall not nominate a candidate for nonpartisan office, and the candidate’s party preference shall not be included on the ballot for the nonpartisan office.