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CANDIDATE FORUMS & PRO/CONS

Educated and informed voters are the key to our democracy. We invite everyone to participate in our local Leagues’ nonpartisan candidate forums and pro/con ballot issues discussions. 
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View the Candidate Forums
Candidate Forums are one of voters' only opportunities to listen to candidates offer more than just a brief sound bite.

  • Hear what candidates are saying.
  • Form your own opinions of the candidates, based on your own observations.
  • Get engaged in the political process, using critical and analytical abilities to examine the candidates.


9.19.26 - Palo Alto City Council Candidate Forum
(hosted by LWV of Palo Alto)
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE

9.24.26 - Palo Alto School Board Candidate Forum
(hosted by LWV of Palo Alto)
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE

10.7.26 - CA Assembly District 23
(hosted by LWV of South San Mateo County)
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE

10.7.26 - Santa Clara Valley Water District 7 Board of Trustees
(hosted by LWV Los Altos-Mountain View Area) 
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE


Additional Resources 

View State Candidate Statements at the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide.

View CalMatters Voter Guide to check candidates’ experience, key endorsements, major donors, and summaries for other statewide offices.

View Recorded Forums & Pros/Cons Discussions

Pros/Cons Presentation
Watch on YouTube & Navigate Using Chapters

Palo Alto School District Candidate September 24, 2026

Palo Alto City Council Candidate Forum September 19, 2026

Pros/Cons & Positions: State & Local

General Election • November 3, 2026

LOCAL: LWV Palo Alto

cubberley center

Measure J: SALES TAX
(Cubberley Community Ctr.)

This measure authorizes a new sales tax in Palo Alto.

QUESTION: Should the City of Palo Alto levy an additional 0.5% (½%) sales tax on sales and use transactions in Palo Alto to fund the acquisition of seven acres of the Cubberley campus and the improvement of the City-owned portion of the campus, and for other general purposes?

The LWV of Palo Alto supports Measure J, based on its alignment with several national, state, and local League Position Statements, and study on a local level. We agree that the documented community needs and potential citywide benefits of repairing, renovating, and expanding Cubberley Center outweigh concerns regarding Measure J's funding mechanism, lack of a sunset, lack of a legal spending guarantee, and the equity implications of a sales tax.

Read the Measure J Pro/Cons here.
REGIONAL: LWV Bay Area

CalTrain

SB 63: Regional Transit Measure

A Regional Sales Tax Measure that would impose a sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.

QUESTION: To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by:

• Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, and other transit services for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities;

• Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, and reliability;

• Repairing targeted roads and potholes; and

• Requiring financial transparency, oversight, and accountability;

shall the measure enacting a 0.5% sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and a 1% sales tax in San Francisco for 14 years, generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?

The LWV of the Bay Area supports SB63 - Regional Transit Measure - read why here. 

Read the full Regional Transit Measure Pros/Cons here.
STATE: LWV California Education Fund

LWVC EF pros cons

In this election, California voters will choose a Governor, and other representatives for national, state, and local government. Voters will decide if judges on the state's Supreme Court should keep their positions.

California voters will also be deciding on 14 state propositions that are explained in this PROS/CONS. Five of the propositions were placed on the ballot by the state legislature, and other propositions have been placed on the ballot by people who collected enough signatures.

Visit VOTE411.org to see everything on your ballot, your polling place, and unbiased information on all your voting choices.


The State League has endorsed positions on the 14 ballot measures.



VIEW THE SLIDE PRESENTATION HERE
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