California voters choose between Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero for lieutenant governor

California voters, including those in the San Jose area, are set to elect a new lieutenant governor, choosing between Democratic state Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, who is running as a Republican, CBS News Bay Area reported.

Fiona Ma finished first in the June primary with 19% of the vote, while Gloria Romero followed closely with 18%. The winner will succeed termed-out Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who is running to replace Ma as state treasurer, according to CBS News Bay Area.

Both candidates have extensive experience in state government. Ma, 60, is an accountant and has served as a San Francisco supervisor, state assemblymember for Marin and Sonoma counties, and member of the State Board of Equalization. Romero, 71, represented Los Angeles County in the Assembly and Senate and was the first woman to serve as Senate majority leader from 2005 to 2008, CBS News Bay Area noted.

Romero left the Democratic Party in 2024, citing disagreements over issues including crime, gender identity, COVID-19 restrictions, and school choice. She endorsed President Trump for a second term and praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now U.S. Health and Human Services secretary. Romero emphasizes curbing waste, encouraging private investment, and lowering costs for housing, transportation, food, and energy.

Ma highlights her record of financing affordable housing and expanding down-payment assistance. She proposes university partnerships to generate revenue and address housing and tuition costs, including a tuition freeze. Both candidates oppose Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on billionaires' assets, but have differing views on Proposition 39, CBS News Bay Area reported.