Equality California endorses and supports 100% pro-equality candidates — up and down the ballot — fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights, reproductive freedom and social justice. Use our official Pro-Equality Voter Guide below to make a plan to vote!
Equality California endorses viable candidates running for local office, statewide offices, the state legislature and Congress who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBTQ+ Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.
Except in rare circumstances, Equality California only endorses openly LGBTQ+ candidates in local school board races, with the goal of supporting the careers of exceptional leaders in our community to build and develop a bench of strong openly LGBTQ+ leaders and candidates for higher office.
In races for California Assembly and Senate, the United States House of Representatives and Senate and California State Constitutional Offices, Equality California considers endorsement of all candidates — those who are openly LGBTQ+ and pro-equality allies — who meet our screening and endorsement criteria.
Bold indicates an openly LGBTQ+ candidate.
Click here for a list of our 2024 primary election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2023 election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2022 election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2021 election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2020 general election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2020 primary election endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2019 endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2018 endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2017 endorsements. Click here for a list of our 2016 endorsements.
Equality California endorses viable candidates running for local office, statewide offices, the state legislature, and Congress who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBTQ+ Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.
Except in rare circumstances, Equality California only endorses openly LGBTQ+ candidates in local races, with the goal of supporting the careers of exceptional leaders in our community to build and develop a bench of strong openly LGBTQ+ leaders and candidates for higher office.
In races for California Assembly and Senate, the United States House of Representatives and Senate, California State Constitutional Offices, and the United States Presidency, Equality California considers endorsement of all candidates — those who are openly LGBTQ+ and pro-equality allies — who also meet our screening and endorsement criteria.
Absent extraordinary circumstances, Equality California will extend pro forma endorsements to incumbent state and federal elected officials running for reelection who scored 100% on Equality California’s legislative scorecard. These candidates are not required to submit a new questionnaire and are considered to be in full support of equality.
If an incumbent state or federal elected official does not meet the 100% threshold but has still received high scores in past years, they may still be eligible for an endorsement but will need to submit a questionnaire and participate in the endorsement process.
Candidates who are interested in our endorsement should contact Shay Franco-Clausen, Political Director at shay@eqca.org, as early as possible to inform us of your candidacy.
To be considered for Equality California endorsement for the upcoming 2024 General election, candidates must submit a questionnaire by August 9th, 2024. Endorsement meetings will be held between May 20, 2024 – August 15, 2024.
Our endorsement process will close on August 9, 2024.
The last day to register for the 2024 Presidential Election is October 21! If you miss the October 21 deadline, you can still use Same Day Voter Registration to register and vote in person on, or before, Election Day at a polling place, early vote centers or county register.
To check your voter registration status, visit sos.ca.gov/elections.
If you’ve already mailed in your ballot, click here to track its location.
If you are registered to vote in California, your county elections office will begin mailing ballots approximately one month before Election Day. It can take a few days for your ballot to arrive in the mail. Click here to track your ballot or click here to contact your county elections office if you think your ballot may have been lost in the mail. If you aren’t registered to vote in California, click here for more information about how to vote in your state.
When you receive your California vote-by-mail ballot, make sure to read and follow the included instructions carefully. After carefully marking your choices on your ballot, simply:
If you lost your ballot or didn’t receive it in the mail, voting locations will offer replacement ballots, voter registration, accessible voting machines and language assistance. Voting locations will be available in all California counties before and on Election Day. Click here to find an early voting location near you.
Important Dates: • Mail-in Ballots: Must be postmarked by November 5, 2024. • Secure Drop Box: Ballots must be deposited by 8:00 p.m. on November 5, 2024.
Early Voting: • At least one early voting location will be available in every county for a minimum of ten days before Election Day. • Voting locations will provide: Voter registration Replacement ballots Accessible voting machines Language assistance Find Early Voting Locations: For a complete list of early voting and ballot drop-off locations, visit: California Early Voting.
Equality California PAC works to elect pro-equality candidates running for local, state legislative and statewide offices, who have a proven track record of supporting civil rights and social justice for LGBTQ+ people and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.
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Equality California Federal PAC works to elect pro-equality candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate or president, who have a proven track record of supporting civil rights and social justice for LGBTQ+ people and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.
Equality California Issues PAC endorses or opposes select initiative and issue campaigns that come before California’s voters. This PAC endorses or opposes initiatives relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as initiatives that are important to the diverse communities to which LGBTQ+ people belong or that have a substantial impact upon our state.
Equality California’s PACs are overseen by a group of dedicated community leaders and activists:
* Member of Equality California Board of Directors
^ Member of the Equality California Board of Advisors
Paid for by Equality California Political Action Committee. Committee major funding from: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Caucus Leadership Fund California Dental Association California Apartment Association Not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.
