Your June 2 Ballot Is Already in Your Mailbox. Here's What You Need to Know.

California's June 2 primary is only weeks away, and if you're a Butte County voter, your ballot has already arrived. This isn't a typical primary. The stakes are unusually high, the field is unusually crowded, and the decisions you make on this ballot will shape California politics through November and beyond.

Here's what every progressive voter needs to understand before filling it out.

The Most Important Thing to Know: How California's Primary Works

California uses a  top-two primary system. Every candidate from every party appears on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters (regardless of party) advance to the November general election.

That means if Democratic voters split their votes across too many candidates, two Republicans could finish first and second, and no Democrat would appear on the November ballot at all.

This is not a hypothetical. It has happened before in down-ballot California races. And in the governor's race this year, with a large and fragmented Democratic field, analysts estimate there is roughly a one in four chance it happens again at the top of the ticket.

Your vote in this primary is not a warm-up. It counts enormously.

A Note on the Term "Jungle Primary"

You may see California's primary referred to as a "jungle primary" in news coverage or on social media. It means the same thing as the top-two system described above: it is a "nonpartisan primary" where all candidates from all parties compete on a single ballot, and the top two finishers advance regardless of party affiliation.

The term sounds chaotic, and in a crowded field like this year's governor's race, it can be. The "jungle" refers to the unpredictability of an open field where party labels don't determine who advances. For Democratic voters in 2026, understanding this dynamic isn't just useful trivia, it's the key to voting strategically.

The Governor's Race

Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run again. That means California will have a new governor next year, and who that person is will be decided, in large part, by how progressives vote on June 2.

There are 61 candidates on the ballot. Yes, really. Here's what you actually need to know:

The Republican Front-runners

Two Republicans have consolidated their party's support and are polling near the top of the overall field:

Chad Bianco is the Riverside County Sheriff. He is running on suspending state environmental regulations, overturning California's sanctuary law, boosting oil and gas production, and eliminating the state income tax and gas tax.

Steve Hilton is a former British political advisor and TV commentator. He is running on broad deregulation and has stated he would extradite a California abortion provider to face charges in Louisiana.

Both candidates have consistent, consolidated Republican support — which is precisely what makes the fragmented Democratic field so risky.

The Democratic Candidates

Several Democrats are viable, but their combined polling leads their individual numbers. These are the candidates polling with the most support going into May of 2026:

Tom Steyer is a billionaire environmental investor and former presidential candidate. He is running on challenging the monopoly status of investor-owned utilities, raising property taxes on business-owned properties, and creating a fee on AI usage to fund workers displaced by automation.

Xavier Becerra is the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former California Attorney General. He is running on declaring a state of emergency to freeze utility and insurance rates and is open to revising state climate goals to keep fuel affordable for working Californians.

Katie Porter is a former U.S. Representative known for her consumer protection work. She has been direct about the risk of a Democrat-free November, stating she believes it would be dangerous for Californians if the next governor cooperated with federal priorities rather than resisting them.

Matt Mahan is the Mayor of San Jose. He is running as a moderate, opposing new taxes, proposing a temporary suspension of the gas tax, and focusing on homelessness solutions that emphasize shelter access.

Tony Thurmond  is the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction and a former social worker. He is running to the left of most Democratic candidates and is the only gubernatorial contender supporting a proposed one-time tax on billionaire assets to backfill federal cuts to Medi-Cal.

Be Strategic with Your Vote

​In a crowded field, every vote is a piece of a puzzle. It is important to know that two prominent Democrats have suspended their campaigns since the ballots were printed. While their names still appear on your ballot, votes cast for them will not help a Democratic candidate reach the "Top Two" for November.

• ​Betty Yee: The former State Controller suspended her campaign in early May. She has been a long-time servant of California’s finances, but a vote for her now is effectively "inactive" as she is no longer seeking the office.

• ​Eric Swalwell: The former Congressman suspended his campaign in April. Like Yee, his name remains on the ballot, but he is no longer an active candidate.

​If you were originally planning to support either of these leaders, now is the time to redirect your vote to one of the active candidates, like those mentioned above. In a "Top-Two" primary, keeping your vote behind an active candidate is the only way to ensure your priorities are represented in the general election this fall.

Your vote now matters more than ever: please direct your vote to a candidate who is still actively running.

How to Decide

We aren't telling you who to vote for. What we are telling you is this: pick one Democrat and vote for them. Visit each candidate's website, review their positions, and make your choice. What progressives cannot afford right now is indecision or a protest vote. MAGA is eyeing California like a predator and the jungle primary is just more red meat.

The Congressional District 1 Race

Butte County is part of California's Congressional District 1, and that race is also on your June 2 ballot. Indivisible Chico endorsed Audrey Denney as the progressive candidate in this race, running against state Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblyman James Gallagher. This is a competitive race worth your attention. Research all candidates and make sure your congressional vote is as informed as your vote for governor.

Our Butte County Supervisor Races

Local races have the most direct impact on your daily life — roads, public safety, mental health services, land use, and how your tax dollars are spent. Two Butte County supervisor seats are on this ballot.

District 2: Peter Durfee (Incumbent) vs. Marianne Paiva (Challenger)

Peter Durfee has held the District 2 seat since 2019 and currently serves as a Chico Police Officer. His stated priorities are:

• Opposing needle exchange programs

• Enforcing laws around homeless encampments in public spaces

• Supporting water storage projects including Sites Reservoir and opposing state limits on groundwater use

• Reducing regulatory burdens on the agricultural industry

Marianne Paiva is a fourth-generation Chico resident and challenger. Her stated priorities are:

• Improving evacuation planning and emergency communication for wildfire events

• Investing in flood control and aquifer recharge for long-term water reliability

• Directing new housing development away from high fire and flood risk areas

• Protecting farmland and the Greenline from urban sprawl

• Expanding behavioral and mental health services through state funding and local grants

District 3: Tami Ritter (Incumbent, Unopposed)

Tami Ritter is running for a third term and has no challenger on the ballot. Her background is in social services and restorative justice. During her previous terms she has focused on homelessness outreach, mental health services, wildfire recovery, and fire fuel reduction in the Wildland Urban Interface.

Your Voting Checklist

Is your registration current? 

The last day to register to vote in the June 2 primary is  May 18, 2026 . Check your registration at vote.ca.gov.

Where is your ballot? 

All active registered voters were mailed a ballot beginning May 4. If yours hasn't arrived, contact the Butte County Elections Office.

 How do you return it? 

• Drop it at any secure ballot drop box — locations opened May 5

• Return it to the Butte County Elections Office directly

• Mail it back — it must be postmarked by June 2 

• Vote in person on June 2 — polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Early in-person voting begins May 23 at Butte County Voter's Choice Act locations, with broader locations opening May 30.

What It All Means to California

This primary will determine who governs California for the next four years. California is an influential player in not only the national stage but the world and the vote in the primary will steer the direction our economy will follow. 

More locally, this primary will determine who represents Butte County in Congress. And it will determine who manages the roads, public safety, and services that affect our daily life right here at home.

Your ballot is in your hands. Fill it out, return it, and share this post with someone who needs to see it.

Whether it's who steers the world’s fifth-largest economy or who decides when your street gets repaved, these ballots are the work orders for the next four years. Don't leave yours on the kitchen counter.

Questions about your ballot or registration? Contact the Butte County Elections Office.