California voters will decide Proposition 5 on November 3, 2026, a legislative constitutional amendment that would eliminate the successor question from statewide recall ballots, instead filling vacancies through existing appointment or special-election rules, with the lieutenant governor automatically assuming a recalled governor’s duties until the next election. The measure stems from the costly 2021 recall attempt against Governor Gavin Newsom and earlier recalls, including that of its sponsor, former Senator Josh Newman. Supporters including Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, the League of Women Voters, and Common Cause argue it prevents plurality replacements and reduces gamesmanship and expense. Opponents, including some Republican lawmakers and groups such as the Election Integrity Project California, contend it curtails voter choice and risks representation gaps. Recent polling has shown the proposition trailing, yet trader consensus currently prices passage above even odds.