Bay Area polls are open and voting is underway Tuesday for the November midterm election. California voters will choose a new governor to replace Gavin Newsom, who terms out after this year. The choices are Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton. From allocating funds aimed at boo sting affordable housing to levying a tax on billionaires in the state, voters will also weigh in on 14 California propositions. Elections Sep 17 Bay Area voter guide: What to know about the November 2026 election Decision 2026 Oct 2 What to know about California propositions in the November election There are also a host of key races in the Bay Area. The Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative is a regional sales tax aimed at increasing funds for public transit. It includes 5 Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Alameda County voters will choose between California lawmaker Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez for who will serve the Congressional District 14’s next full two-year term. Oakland residents will also have their say on whether Barbara Lee will continue to serve as mayor. In Contra Costa County, several county board of education seats are open. In Richmond, residents will vote on a new mayor while voters in San Pablo will weigh in on Measure S, which would limit rent increases. San Francisco voters are considering several propositions, including Prop B, which would pave the way for a public bank, and Prop G, which would reopen parts of the Great Highway to vehicle traffic on weekdays. Prop H if passed would establish a parcel tax to fund Muni. City voters will also weigh in on the Congressional District 11 race, where Scott Wiener and Connie Chan compete to succeed Nancy Pelosi. In San Mateo County, Measure E in Redwood City would limit rent increases. Measure Q in Half Moon Bay would block proposed farmworker housing and Measure U aims to create an independent commission to draw supervisor districts in the county. In San Jose, incumbents Peter Ortiz and Bien Doan are up for re-election in Districts 5 and 7, respectively, and there’s an open seat in District 9. South Bay residents will also vote in mayoral races held in Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Santa Clara. Marin County County voters will decide on several measures related to paramedic and emergency medical services. City council seats are also up for election in Novato, San Rafael, Larkspur and Sausalito. In Solano County, voters will choose between Mike Silva and John Carli, who will face in a runoff for a supervisors district covering Vacaville and Dixon. Measure E if passed by voters would establish a tax on data centers and battery storage facilities in the unincorporated county areas. Sonoma County voters will decide whether Mike McGuire or James Gallagher takes a seat redistricted by Proposition 50. ...read more read less