Candidates for California’s No. 2 job pitch big plans for a limited office

California’s lieutenant governor race features six candidates aiming to leverage the office’s influence over higher education, land-use policy, and economic decisions. The role, currently held by Eleni Kounalakis, includes seats on the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges boards, as well as the State Lands Commission and Coastal Commission. State Treasurer Fiona Ma tops the field with $4.6 million in campaign funds, backed by labor unions and current officeholders. She proposes addressing college affordability and student housing shortages by repurposing state-owned land, citing past success in funding over 300 homes at Santa Rosa Junior College. Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, supported by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and philanthropist Patty Quillin, appeals to progressive Democrats, while former Sausalito Mayor Janelle Kellman focuses on climate and energy policy. Civil rights attorney Oliver Ma, endorsed by the California Democratic Socialists of America, and former state Sen. Gloria Romero, the sole Republican candidate, round out the field. Romero aligns with gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton under a shared “golden ticket” platform. The lieutenant governor’s role also includes presiding over the state Senate and acting as governor when needed, though past holders like Gavin Newsom used the position for symbolic gestures like naming the artichoke the state vegetable. Candidates emphasize the office’s potential to shape housing, tuition debates, and climate policy, with no independent polling conducted on the race. Ma’s experience in public office spans two decades, including roles as a San Francisco Supervisor and state Assembly speaker pro tempore, while Tubbs and Kellman bring local government backgrounds to statewide campaigns.