In track, this is the time when a runner explodes into a “kick” — a final sprint to carry them over the finish line. In politics, kicking is frowned upon.

In the chaotic California governor’s race, the candidates’ “kicks” involve proving to voters they have what it takes to make it into the top two. 

You can go here to see our analysis of the final gubernatorial polls, and what the results mean for the top candidates. But the race for governor is just one of the statewide contests voters will be deciding on Tuesday.

There’s a bizarre truth behind a number of the offices Californians will vote on: Many people think they shouldn’t exist, or should be drastically changed. 

That’s certainly true of the race for insurance commissioner, a role that has come under intense scrutiny in recent years thanks to powerful and devastating wildfires. 

The Chronicle’s Megan Fan Munce reports that at least one of the current candidates to become the next insurance commissioner believes the role should go back to being appointed by the governor. Another strongly leaned that way. Others said there are benefits to both systems.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, has proposed dramatically reshaping the role of the state superintendent.

The current supe, Tony Thurmond, who’s running for governor, is not a fan of that plan.

“This new structure, as it is envisioned, I think would devastate the state superintendent position. It would essentially relegate that person to attending a few board meetings,” he told the Chronicle. 

Then there’s the Board of Equalization. The Chronicle’s editorial board declined to formally endorse any BOE candidates because, well, “the board has little reason to exist.” 

“At this point, the whittled-down agency is little more than a cushy political jobs program — with a commensurately cushy salary,” the board wrote.

A new measure to safeguard California’s elections came in just under the wire: Newsom on Wednesday signed SB73 by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside. Because the bill had an urgency clause, it goes into effect immediately, meaning it will be the law of the land for Tuesday’s primary election.

The bill makes it a felony for anyone, including law enforcement officials, to seize ballots from a county elections office, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $1,000 fine and subject to civil injunctions and penalties. It also makes it illegal for law enforcement agencies to search or take custody of voter rolls or voting machines without a signed warrant or agreement with the official overseeing the election, and clarifies the attorney general’s authority to advise county election officials on how to respond to law enforcement requests. 

If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who’s also on the ballot Tuesday as a candidate for governor, seized thousands of ballots from the November 2025 election as part of an “investigation” into a group’s disputed fraud claims. The California Supreme Court has put the investigation on hold.

A unanimous vote on a massively controversial bill does not happen often in the Legislature. But that’s how things shook out on Thursday when Assembly lawmakers took up a landmark bill to bar social media companies from allowing kids under 16 to create accounts. AB1709 by Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, represents a harsh rebuke to tech companies from their own home state.

Though several lawmakers expressed concerns and hesitation about the bill during Thursday’s debate, the measure ultimately won a shocking 72-0 vote. Newsom has indicated he will sign the bill, leaving only the state Senate to change its fate.