Democrat Fiona Ma has been elected California lieutenant governor over former Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero who ran as a Republican, CBS News projects.
Ma, the current state treasurer, will succeed termed-out Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who was running to replace Ma as treasurer.
Ma and Romero came into the race having long records in state government. Ma, 60, is an accountant and former San Francisco supervisor, state assemblymember representing Marin and Sonoma counties, and member of the State Board of Equalization. Romero, 71, represented Los Angeles County in the Assembly and Senate and became the first woman to serve as Senate majority leader, from 2005 to 2008.
Romero left the Democratic Party in 2024, citing disagreements over crime, gender identity, COVID-19 restrictions and school choice. At the time of the announcement, she endorsed President Trump for a second term in office and called Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, a "personal hero."
In her candidate statement, Romero touted her role in implementing school-choice reforms and argues that years of Democratic Party-led spending and bureaucracy, and a lack of accountability are to blame for the state's high cost of living. She promised to focus on curbing waste, encouraging private investment and lowering costs for housing, transportation, food and energy.
Ma also emphasized affordability in her candidate statement, highlighting a record of financing affordable housing and expanding down-payment assistance. She proposes university partnerships to generate revenue and help address housing and tuition costs, while calling for a tuition freeze.
Both candidates opposed Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on the covered assets of billionaires. They had opposing views on Proposition 39, which would require government-issued identification to vote — Ma opposed the voter ID measure while Romero supported it.
Although lieutenant governors have limited direct executive authority, the office carries influential board assignments. The lieutenant governor serves on the governing boards of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges, as well as the State Lands Commission. In alternate years, the officeholder also serves on the Ocean Protection Council and as a nonvoting member of the California Coastal Commission, and chairs the California Commission for Economic Development.
The lieutenant governor also presides over the state Senate and casts tie-breaking votes. Under the state Constitution, the officeholder serves as acting governor when the governor is out of state and succeeds to the governorship if a vacancy occurs.
