Secretary of State of California · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the California secretary of state race?
Shirley Weber has the strongest record in the California secretary of state race. Shirley Weber scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Donald P. Wagner at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Shirley Weber's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Donald P. Wagner's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Donald P. Wagner
On the ballot as Donald P. (Don) Wagner
59 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 75
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Shirley Weber
On the ballot as Shirley N. Weber
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
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.
Donald P. Wagner
- On the record2026-05-20
With the American Independent Party, filed a federal suit against Secretary of State Weber over voter-roll maintenance (Wagner v. Weber, 8:26-cv-01263); it is pending.
- On the record2024-01-23
Voted against a proposal requiring supervisors to disclose family ties to recipients of county money, which failed 2 to 2; he called it unconstitutional and said Andrew Do's grant was not illegal.
Source: LAist, Jan. 23, 2024
- On the record2024-08-26
As board chair, called for removing fellow Republican Supervisor Andrew Do from all committee assignments after FBI raids; the board stripped Do's assignments in September 2024.
Sources: Orange County Third District, press release, Aug. 26, 2024, KTLA, Aug. 27, 2024
- On the record2021-04-27
At a board meeting he asked the county health officer whether COVID-19 vaccines contained tracking devices; he later said he was walking the doctor through false public claims and knew they were untrue.
Sources: NBC News, April 29, 2021, CBS Los Angeles, April 29, 2021
- Credit2020-01-20
At his direction the county added $400,000 to fund testing of Orange County's 30-year rape kit backlog; the DA cleared the backlog in 2022, with charges in six cold cases.
Sources: Orange County District Attorney, Jan. 20, 2020, CBS Los Angeles, July 1, 2022
- Credit2019-08
Helped end a three-year stalemate among the county and two water districts that reopened Irvine Lake to the public for shoreline fishing and hiking.
Source: NBC Los Angeles, 2019
Shirley Weber
- Mark against2021-06
The FPPC fined her $600 (Tier Two) for failing to timely file a behested payment report.
- Unresolved2026-05-20
Her opponent Don Wagner and the American Independent Party sued her in federal court over voter-roll maintenance (Wagner v. Weber, 8:26-cv-01263); she has answered and the case is pending.
Where it stands: Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California as of Oct. 1, 2026.
- On the record2026-04
Her office printed a gubernatorial candidate's antisemitic statement in the June 2026 voter guide with a disclaimer; Jewish groups condemned it, and she said state law gave her no authority to reject it.
Source: KTLA, April 2026
- On the record2026-01-15
A federal judge dismissed the U.S. Justice Department's suit seeking California's full voter registration data from her office.
- On the record2023-12
Declined Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis's request to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot, saying eligibility challenges belong in the courts; Trump stayed on the ballot.
Source: KQED, Dec. 2023
- On the record2023-12
A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled against her decision to keep Assemblymember Vince Fong off the 20th Congressional District primary ballot; Fong appeared on the ballot.
Source: KQED, Dec. 2023
- On the record2018-03
The FPPC fined her 2014 Assembly committee $4,000 for late reports of large contributions; her spokesman acknowledged the errors and said the fine was paid.
Source: inewsource, March 28, 2018
- On the record2016 to 2017
As a Democratic Assemblymember she carried teacher tenure and evaluation bills opposed by the California Teachers Association; several stalled or were vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Source: CalMatters, Aug. 2017
- Credit2025-06-28
Inducted into the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference Legacy Hall of Fame.
Source: NNPA
- Credit2020
Authored AB 3121, which created California's task force to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans.
Source: Lookout Santa Cruz, 2021
- Credit2019-08-19
Governor Newsom signed her AB 392, which allows police to use deadly force only when necessary; it passed with bipartisan support after police groups won concessions.
Sources: Office of the Governor, Aug. 19, 2019, NBC News, Aug. 19, 2019
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Donald P. Wagner. Campaign committee registered with the FPPC (No. 1482695). No FPPC enforcement action naming him found. State Bar profile (inactive since 2023) shows no discipline.
Sources: Wagner for Secretary of State 2026, campaign site, State Bar of California, Donald Paul Wagner #131364
Shirley Weber. Campaign committee registered with the FPPC (No. 1456658). No ethics, court or conduct finding found. Two small FPPC late-filing fines (2018, 2021) are scored once, under Management.
Source: Shirley Weber for Secretary of State 2026, campaign site
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Donald P. Wagner. As board chair in 2024 he called for removing fellow Republican Supervisor Andrew Do from all committee assignments; the board voted to strip Do's assignments in September 2024.
Sources: KTLA, Aug. 27, 2024, The National Desk via WJLA, Sept. 11, 2024
Shirley Weber. Pushed teacher tenure bills opposed by the California Teachers Association as a Democrat (2016 to 2017), and in 2023 declined Democratic Lt. Gov. Kounalakis's call to remove Trump from the primary ballot, leaving eligibility to the courts.
Sources: CalMatters, Aug. 2017, KQED, Dec. 2023
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Donald P. Wagner. Gave on-the-record interviews on the race to CalMatters (April 2026) and to KQED's Political Breakdown (Sept. 25, 2026). No joint 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: CalMatters, April 2026, KQED Political Breakdown via PBS, Sept. 25, 2026
Shirley Weber. Gave on-the-record interviews on the race to CalMatters (April 2026) and to KQED's Political Breakdown (Sept. 25, 2026), which also interviewed her opponent. No joint 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: CalMatters, April 2026, KQED Political Breakdown via PBS, Sept. 25, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Donald P. Wagner. Assemblymember (2010 to 2016), Irvine mayor (2016 to 2019) and county supervisor since 2019. No formal censure or conduct finding found. His 2021 vaccine-tracker question is listed in the Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Donald P. Wagner
Shirley Weber. Four Assembly terms, San Diego school board member and president, and secretary of state since January 2021. No formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Donald P. Wagner. Sworn as Assemblymember, mayor and supervisor. No vote or filing to reject certified results and no misuse-of-office finding found. His pending 2026 voter-roll suit against Weber does not challenge any result.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Donald P. Wagner, CalMatters, April 2026
Shirley Weber. Chaired the 2020 California Electoral College. In 2026 published a candidate's antisemitic voter guide statement, saying the law gave her no authority to reject it, and drew sharp criticism. Won dismissal of a federal voter-data suit.
Sources: California Secretary of State, official biography, KTLA, April 2026, Associated Press via WSLS, Jan. 15, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Donald P. Wagner. Three Assembly terms (2010 to 2016), Irvine mayor and Orange County supervisor; no prior election administration post.
Source: Ballotpedia, Donald P. Wagner
Shirley Weber. Secretary of state since 2021, elected to a full term in 2022, after four Assembly terms.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Donald P. Wagner. Proposes voter ID, ending automatic mail ballots and an earlier certification deadline; CalMatters notes each would need new legislation, beyond the office's own powers.
Source: CalMatters, April 2026
Shirley Weber. Incumbent who chaired the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee before taking office. Campaign lists office priorities, including fixing delayed financial filings in the office and statewide voter outreach.
Sources: California Secretary of State, official biography, Weber campaign, Priorities
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Donald P. Wagner. Publishes positions on his campaign site and gave broadcast and print interviews. Did not complete the 2026 Ballotpedia survey or the GrowSF questionnaire.
Sources: Wagner campaign site, Ballotpedia, Donald P. Wagner, GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Shirley Weber. Publishes an issue page and gave broadcast and print interviews. Did not complete the 2026 Ballotpedia survey or the GrowSF questionnaire.
Sources: Weber campaign, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Shirley Weber, GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Donald P. Wagner. Irvine resident who served as Irvine mayor and represents Orange County's Third District. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: CalMatters, April 2026, Ballotpedia, Donald P. Wagner
Shirley Weber. Taught at San Diego State for 40 years and served on and chaired the San Diego Unified school board. Raised in Los Angeles. In-state donor share not available.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Donald P. Wagner. Chaired the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2024. No FPPC fine or official finding about his campaigns or office found.
Source: Orange County Third District, press release, Aug. 26, 2024
Shirley Weber. Heads an office of nearly 500 people. Her 2014 Assembly committee paid a $4,000 FPPC fine in 2018 for late contribution reports, and she paid a $600 FPPC fine in 2021 for a late behested payment report.
Sources: California Secretary of State, About the Agency, inewsource, March 28, 2018, FPPC enforcement decisions, June 2021
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Donald P. Wagner. Directed $400,000 to complete funding for testing Orange County's untested rape kit backlog, which the DA cleared in 2022 with six cold cases charged; helped negotiate Irvine Lake's 2019 reopening.
Sources: Orange County District Attorney, Jan. 20, 2020, CBS Los Angeles, July 1, 2022, NBC Los Angeles, 2019
Shirley Weber. Authored AB 392 (2019), the deadly-force standard signed by the governor, and AB 3121 (2020), which created the state reparations task force.
Sources: Office of the Governor, Aug. 19, 2019, Lookout Santa Cruz
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Donald P. Wagner. No public record found.
Shirley Weber. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Donald P. Wagner. No public record found.
Shirley Weber. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Donald P. Wagner. No public record found.
Shirley Weber. AB 392 passed with bipartisan support after police organizations won concessions, per NBC News.
Source: NBC News, Aug. 19, 2019
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Donald P. Wagner. No public record found.
Shirley Weber. 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 secretary of state race?
Shirley Weber has the strongest record in the California secretary of state race. Shirley Weber scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Donald P. Wagner at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Shirley Weber's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Donald P. Wagner's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the California secretary of state race in 2026?
Donald P. Wagner (Republican), Shirley Weber (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Donald P. Wagner a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Donald P. Wagner scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Shirley Weber a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Shirley Weber scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 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.