California Assembly District 24's 2026 Race: Know the Candidates, Know Your Vote
- May 31
- 3 min read
Updated: May 31
Written by Michael Qin
As the California Primary Election is approaching on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, residents across the South Bay and East Bay are awaiting one of the most consequential races for the California State Assembly District 24. Federal elections often claim the spotlight, but the outcome of this one will hit closer to home by shaping state law, public education funding, housing, affordability, and tax policies.
To help our community show up prepared, The Municipal Journal has put together a breakdown of what the State Assembly actually does, how this year’s election works, and the different ways you can cast your vote.
What Does a State Assemblymember Do?
While US Congress members legislate federal laws in Washington, D.C., California State Assemblymembers work in Sacramento, representing the communities most of us interact with every day. The California State Assembly is the lower house of the state legislature, consisting of 80 members representing their respective districts of roughly equal populations. Members serve two-year terms, with a lifetime cap of six terms, or 12 years of tenure.
Working alongside the State Senate, an assemblymember’s core job is to write state laws, pass California’s annual state budget, and fight to direct state resources back to serving their district constituents.
District 24’s Scope
District 24 covers parts of both Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, including all of Fremont, Newark, and Milpitas, in addition to portions of North San Jose. Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee, who made history in 2020 as the youngest person ever elected to the California State Assembly at just 25 years old, currently holds the seat. This year, Lee faces a once again competitive race, facing No Party Preference candidate Dr. Yang Shao and Republican challenger Max Hsia.
How the Top-Two System Works
Rather than having each party hold its own separate primary to pick a nominee, similar to how the Presidential Election functions, California uses a “top-two” system. In this system, registered voters will see every qualified candidate, regardless of affiliated party, appear on their June 2 ballot, and can vote for any of them. Later, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election on November 3, 2026, even if they belong to the same party, making voter turnout in June crucial.
Three Ways to Vote
Since District 24 falls within Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, it operates under the California Voter’s Choice Act, which modernized elections to expand flexibility and convenience for voters. Voters have three flexible options:
Vote by Mail. Every active registered voter in District 24 will automatically receive a ballot at home weeks before the election. Fill it out, seal it in the provided return envelope, sign the back, and drop it in any USPS mailbox. It just has to be postmarked by June 2.
Official Drop Boxes. Instead of mail, you can deposit your signed ballot envelope into any secure, official county drop box located throughout Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and San Jose. Drop boxes are open around the clock until 8:00 PM on Election Day, June 2.
Vote Centers. For those who prefer in-person voting, Vote Centers are open to walk-in voting across both counties.
Want to learn more? Read our full profiles on the other District 24 candidates: Alex Lee, Max Hsia, and Dr. Yang Shao.
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