Lieutenant Governor of California · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the California lieutenant governor race?
Gloria J. Romero has the strongest record in the California lieutenant governor race. Gloria J. Romero scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Gloria J. Romero's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Fiona Ma (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Fiona Ma
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Gloria J. Romero
On the ballot as Gloria Romero
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Fiona Ma
- Mark against2024-01
The FPPC fined her 2018 treasurer committee, Ma and its treasurer $11,500 for late disclosure of subvendor payments and credit card charges and missing campaign records, after a Franchise Tax Board audit.
- Unresolved2024-04
In April 2024 federal agents delivered a written request for documents to the State Treasurer's Office, which said it was cooperating; whether Ma herself is a subject has not been reported.
Where it stands: No charges, findings or public outcome reported as of Oct. 9, 2026 (news sweep searches for 2025 and 2026 updates found none); KCRA reported the request was part of a federal grand jury subpoena.
Sources: Newsweek, April 2024, SJV Sun, April 15, 2024, KCRA 3, April 15, 2024
- On the record2024-08-30
The state agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a former employee's 2021 sexual harassment lawsuit against her; Ma denied the allegations and called the settlement a vindication.
Sources: CBS Sacramento (AP), Aug. 30, 2024, NBC Bay Area (AP), Aug. 30, 2024, KQED (CalMatters), 2026, The Bond Buyer, Sept. 3, 2024
- On the record2021-09-28
The Sacramento Bee reported, and AP carried, that expense records showed she shared a hotel room with her chief of staff 13 times over two years; state HR rules have no policy on shared rooms.
Source: KTVU (AP), Sept. 28, 2021
- Credit2020-11-09
Named the public sector winner of the 2020 Freda Johnson Award for Trailblazing Women in Public Finance, presented by Northeast Women in Public Finance and The Bond Buyer.
Source: The Bond Buyer, Nov. 9, 2020
Gloria J. Romero
- On the record2024-09-04
Changed her registration from Democratic to Republican in September 2024, saying she no longer recognized the party.
- Credit2010
Wrote California's parent trigger law, enacted in 2010, which lets parents at a chronically underperforming school petition for an intervention.
Source: NPR, 2011
- Credit2005
Was the first woman to serve as majority leader of the California Senate, holding the post for about three years.
Sources: Spectrum News 1 (City News Service), Sept. 4, 2024, Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News, Jan. 13, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. Left the Democratic Party in 2024 after years of public disagreement with it, saying she did not recognize the party she once championed; as a senator she wrote the 2010 parent trigger school law.
Sources: Spectrum News 1 (City News Service), Sept. 4, 2024, LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Fiona Ma. More than two decades in elected office with no censure or formal conduct finding; a former employee's harassment suit was settled by the state in 2024 without a finding (see Record).
Source: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026
Gloria J. Romero. Nearly 12 years in the Legislature, including Senate majority leader, with no censure or formal conduct finding found.
Source: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Fiona Ma. Has held sworn office since 2002 (San Francisco supervisor, Assembly, Board of Equalization, state treasurer since Jan. 7, 2019). No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fiona Ma
Gloria J. Romero. Held sworn legislative office for nearly 12 years ending in 2010. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Fiona Ma. State treasurer since 2019 (two terms), Board of Equalization member and four terms in the state Legislature.
Source: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026
Gloria J. Romero. Served in the Assembly and the state Senate for nearly 12 years, including as Senate majority leader from 2005 to 2008.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026, Spectrum News 1 (City News Service), Sept. 4, 2024
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Fiona Ma. Held the No. 2 Assembly leadership post in her final term and as treasurer works with the state's financing boards and authorities; her stated lieutenant governor goals are general.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Fiona Ma, Candidate Connection survey
Gloria J. Romero. Held an elected chamber leadership post (Senate majority leader, E5) and states goals tied to the office's actual duties, such as its seats on the university and college boards.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters), Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Gloria Romero, Candidate Connection survey
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Fiona Ma. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes a campaign site.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fiona Ma
Gloria J. Romero. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes a plan on her campaign site.
Source: Ballotpedia, Gloria Romero
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Fiona Ma. A longtime San Francisco officeholder with deep roots there, per CalMatters. In-state share of contributions not available (Cal-Access blocked automated access).
Source: KQED (CalMatters), June 3, 2026
Gloria J. Romero. Represented East Los Angeles in the Legislature for 12 years; born in Barstow. In-state share of contributions not available.
Sources: KQED (CalMatters), June 3, 2026, Spectrum News 1 (City News Service), Sept. 4, 2024
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Fiona Ma. In January 2024 the FPPC fined her 2018 treasurer committee, Ma and its treasurer $11,500 on three counts: late disclosure of subvendor payments and credit card charges and missing records, after a Franchise Tax Board audit.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. Wrote California's 2010 parent trigger law, which lets parents at a chronically underperforming school petition for one of several intervention models.
Source: NPR, 2011
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Fiona Ma. No public record found.
Gloria J. Romero. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the California lieutenant governor race?
Gloria J. Romero has the strongest record in the California lieutenant governor race. Gloria J. Romero scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Gloria J. Romero's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Fiona Ma (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the California lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Fiona Ma (Democratic), Gloria J. Romero (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Fiona Ma a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Fiona Ma has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Gloria J. Romero a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Gloria J. Romero scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.