Candidates can file for federal, state and local offices in the June primary.
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — The window to run for public office in Ventura County opens next week, marking the start of the 2026 election cycle.
Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced that the nomination period for the June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election begins at 8 a.m. Mon., Feb. 9.
From that point forward, prospective candidates may obtain official filing papers from the Ventura County Elections Division, located at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave.
While walk-ins are accepted, appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled online or by phone.
Voters will see a wide range of state and local offices on the ballot.
Now is the time to file if you plan to run for any of the following: Governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner, the 2nd District seat on the State Board of Equalization, U.S. House seats in the 24th, 26th, and 32nd Congressional Districts, and Assembly seats in the 38th, 42nd, and 46th districts.
Nonpartisan races are for superintendent of public instruction, 16 seats on the Ventura County Superior Court, the 2nd and 4th districts of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, and several countywide offices: assessor, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, treasurer–tax collector, and county superintendent of schools.
The nomination period closes at 5 p.m. Fri., March 6. All required paperwork and filing fees must be submitted by that deadline. If an incumbent does not file by March 6, the filing window extends to 5 p.m. Wed., March 11, allowing candidates other than the incumbent to enter the race. No extension applies when an incumbent has already reached the maximum term limit.
Once candidate filings close, the election calendar advances quickly. A randomized alphabet drawing to determine ballot order is scheduled for March 12. Voter notification postcards will be mailed in early March and again in early April, followed by state and county voter guides on April 23.
Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out May 4, the same day early voting opens at the Government Center. Vote centers will begin opening countywide on May 23, with additional locations added May 30. Election Day is Tues., June 2.
Candidates seeking more information on eligibility and filing requirements can consult the official Candidate Information Guide on the Ventura County Elections Division website or contact the division directly by phone or email at candidate.filing@venturacounty.gov or 805-654-2664.
As Ventura County prepares for another election cycle, the registrar’s office described its role in simple terms: preserving history and protecting democracy for the county’s past, present, and future.
