From Vallejo to Riverside, CalMatters has brought our voter guide to life

With nine statewide offices, 61 gubernatorial candidates and redrawn U.S. House districts, deciding how to vote in California’s 2026 primary has been a daunting task for many voters.

That’s why CalMatters has teamed up with local partners to present a nonpartisan VotingMatters events across the state to inform voters and empower them to feel more confident in their own primary choices.

Building on CalMatters voting guide, gubernatorial candidate videos and Choose Your Next Governor Zines.The 17 VotingMatters events in May brought together more than 600 Californians across the state. From Vallejo to Riverside, people of diverse backgrounds gathered around a table at VotingMatters, where they shared different perspectives and engaged in civil dialogue.

In the Central Valley, VotingMatters reached out to bars and community colleges in Modesto, Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield. About 100 people gathered in the taproom of Contentment Brewing Company in Modesto for an event co-hosted by the newly formed A modest focus. With food and drinks in hand, attendees played state and local politics to break the ice. After watching CalMatters Governor Q&A videos, attendees turned to each other to discuss the candidates.

In Southern California, VotingMatters came to Montecito, Camarillo, Los Angeles and Riverside. At the event in Montecito co-hosted by NoozhawkMarty Connolly, a 45-year-old Santa Barbara resident, said how valuable he thought the gubernatorial candidate’s Q&A videos were.

“The candidates’ videos should be on TV at seven o’clock, nonstop,” he said, adding that he learned more watching the CalMatters videos than watching any of the debates. He had shut down a recent televised debate after it quickly devolved into the candidates attacking each other.

“We were 6 people at our table, complete strangers, and we never talked about politics. What we talked about was issues,” said Celeste Barber, who attended the same event. “That’s what I’ve always thought political engagement should be in this country.” Barber also attended CalMatters’ VotingMatters event in Santa Barbara, also co-hosted by Noozhawk, in 2024.

Each event brought together people with unique backgrounds and experiences: a poll worker who worked 6 p.m. last election day, a business owner who saw a drop in customer traffic due to homeless encampments outside her store, and Fresno City College students for whom this was their first midterm election. By the end of the VotingMatters event in Camarillo, attendees who were strangers exchange information to stay connected.

VotingMatters materials were also made available in Spanish. In Bakersfield, Merced and Modesto, attendees picked up heaps of Spanish CalMatters Voter Guide for distribution to students, friends and family.

To run the 17 VotingMatters events across the state for the first season, CalMatters collaborated with about 30 local partners, including publications, nonprofits and churches. As many as six partners collaborated on an event in Riverside, including Mindful Media Makers who brought Panchito the interview doll CalMatters Director of Partnerships Dan Hu. Across the state, CalMatters also works with county registrar offices, League of Women Voters chapters and the California State Library. For partners like Abridged by PBS KVIE, VotingMatters was the first event they hosted in Yolo County, where they are working to expand their coverage.

Finally, the VotingMatters Event Kit was shared with anyone interested in hosting their own VotingMatters event. CalMatters members in Petaluma and Long Beach hosted their own gatherings of 10+ people to review their ballots and the CalMatters Voter Guide. One member event included visits by candidates running for local offices. An attendee at the Long Beach gathering said: “What a super community event – this is the way democracy should work everywhere.”

VotingMatters will be back for the 2026 general election. If you want to be notified when events are announced, subscribe to our election newsletter.