The California election in 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year in state politics, with an open seat for governor, insurance commissioner and school superintendent among the candidates vying for these positions. Controversial ballot initiatives such as the "billionaire tax" aim to force California's wealthiest residents to part with 5% of their wealth. The billionaire tax has been a fiscal disaster and may be unconstitutional, but is gaining popularity. A new poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Government Studies suggests that a majority of voters support it, leading by a nearly 20-point margin. The other major ballot initiative is on Voter ID, with polls suggesting that voters from both parties and every racial and ethnic background support the idea of showing ID at the polls. However, Democratic Party leaders have long opposed this, claiming that voter ID suppresses minority voters.