LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) released its recommendations on California’s ballot measures on Monday.
MALDEF, a Latino civil rights group, is recommending positions on seven of 14 measures (also known as “propositions”) on the November 2026 California ballot.
“In addition to the critical votes on governor, other statewide offices, Congress, and numerous other posts, California also has several important measures or propositions on the ballot,” said Thomas Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. “Here, we recommend positions on seven measures consistent with MALDEF’s focus and civil rights mission; regardless of your views, every eligible voter should cast a ballot in this key election.”
YES on California Proposition 3:
Proposition 3 will preserve funding dedicated to public education by continuing current tax rates for high-income Californians into the future. The investment in California public schoolchildren will pay off in many ways in the future, including higher tax revenues. MALDEF urges a “YES” vote on California Proposition 3.
NO on California Proposition 4:
Proposition 4 seeks to permit public financing of local election campaigns. Whatever the merits of that basic aim, the measure includes gratuitous scapegoating of immigrants by incorporating an unrelated provision to triple penalties for immigrants who donate to a political campaign. That provision is unnecessary because immigrant donations are already prohibited, not widespread, and not a significant threat to California elections. Our California politicians must learn that the false and unnecessary scapegoating of immigrants must stop. MALDEF urges a “NO” vote on California Proposition 4.
YES on California Proposition 5:
Proposition 5 will prevent the anti-democratic misuse of the recall process by ending the election of replacement officials during a recall election. In recent years, moneyed interests have funded recall petitions with the aim of removing a duly elected statewide official and then taking advantage of the replacement election — with only a plurality vote required and lower expected turnout than an ordinary election. By doing so, these moneyed interests can put in place an official with only a fraction of support statewide. Californians should take this anti-democratic tool away from wealthy interests. MALDEF urges a “YES” vote on California Proposition 5.
NO on California Proposition 39:
Proposition 39 would increase election costs statewide for no reason other than to tacitly endorse the slanders spread about Latino immigrants by Donald Trump and other irresponsible leaders. There is not a shred of evidence to support the notion that ineligible non-citizens have voted in California except in the tiniest of numbers (these often due to mistake), yet this proposition would waste state resources on verifying voters’ citizenship and would require all voters to obtain an acceptable identification form to cast a ballot. Do not fall for the big lies. MALDEF urges a “NO” vote on California Proposition 39.
NO on California Proposition 41:
Proposition 41 seeks to limit future voters’ options with respect to taxation and government spending. Such “zombie” measures that entrench current voter-majority views even after today’s voters have passed away are anti-democratic. Such measures are particularly offensive to Latino voters, who are growing to become the state’s largest voting group, but are not there yet. MALDEF urges a “NO” vote on California Proposition 41.
NO on California Proposition 42:
Proposition 42 would limit future voters’ options with respect to taxation; it would also nullify the vote, if positive, on another measure on this ballot. As a “zombie” measure, it is anti-democratic and offensive to future voters, including the growing number of Latino future voters. MALDEF urges a “NO” vote on California Proposition 42.
NO on California Proposition 43:
Proposition 43 would limit future voters’ options with respect to local taxation by imposing a supermajority requirement for certain voter-proposed measures to prevail. Both “zombie” measures, which seek to control future voters’ decisions, and supermajority requirements are anti-democratic and offensive to future voter majorities, including Latino voters, who may become a majority in numerous California localities in the future. MALDEF urges a “NO” vote on California Proposition 43.