Filipino American candidates on California's 3 November ballot, from attorney general to city councils

INQUIRER.net USA has profiled Filipino American candidates across California, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Jessica Caloza and Cerritos' Mark Pulido, plus council and board hopefuls from Carson to Daly City.

Filipino Americans are on the ballot across California in the 3 November 2026 general election, from the attorney general's office down to city councils and a school board, according to a round-up published by INQUIRER.net USA. The outlet said the candidates draw on experience in state government, municipal leadership, education, law enforcement and community advocacy, and that their records include historic firsts in California government.

Statewide and legislative races

• Rob Bonta, Attorney General: The Democrat is running for re-election. He became the first person of Filipino descent to hold the office when he was sworn in on 23 April 2021, and earlier became the first Filipino American elected to the California Legislature. INQUIRER.net USA said he was born in Quezon City.
• Mark Pulido, Assembly District 67: The Democrat is Cerritos' mayor pro tempore. He was the first Filipino American elected to the Cerritos City Council and the first Filipino American to serve as the city's mayor.
• Jessica Caloza, Assembly District 52: The Democrat is seeking re-election to the seat she has held since December 2024. Her official Assembly biography says she serves as Assistant Majority Whip, represents a district that is home to East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles and South Glendale, and is the first Filipina elected to the California State Legislature.

Southern California

INQUIRER.net USA listed Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Melissa Ramoso, who is seeking re-election; Culver City Unified School District board member Stephanie Loredo, who in 2022 became the first woman of Filipino descent elected to citywide office in Los Angeles' Westside; and two West Covina candidates, Mayor Pro Tem Ollie Cantos in District 4 and Mayor Letty Lopez-Viado in District 2, who is listed on the ballot as Letty Lopez.

Elsewhere in Southern California, Carson Councilmember Arleen Bocatija Rojas, the first female Filipino American police officer in Los Angeles Police Department history, is seeking re-election in District 4. Santa Ana Councilmember Phil Bacerra, the first Fil-Am elected official in that city's history, is running again in Ward 4, and National City Councilmember Ditas Yamane is seeking re-election in District 3.

Northern California

Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo and South San Francisco Councilmember Mark Nagales are among the candidates in a special election for the District 5 seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, scheduled for 3 November. Manalo was the first Filipino American woman to serve as Daly City mayor, and Nagales was the first Filipino American mayor of South San Francisco.

In Daly City, Councilmembers Rod Daus-Magbual and Tony Bayudan are both running for the City Council, while in El Cerrito, Mayor Gabe Quinto, the city's first Filipino American and LGBTQ councilmember, is also among the candidates profiled.

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