Donald P. Wagner, a Republican and Orange County supervisor, is running for California secretary of state in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Shirley Weber.
The secretary of state oversees elections statewide and manages business filings. Wagner has said the office should be nonpartisan. In his official candidate statement, he said the secretary of state should be "representing the will of the people, not answering to Sacramento political machines."
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Irvine, California
- Born: Dec. 3, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Family: Married to Megan Wagner, an Orange County Superior Court judge. They have three children.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in English, University of California, Los Angeles; law degree, University of California, Hastings College of Law (1987)
Experience and public service
Wagner has served as District 3 supervisor on the Orange County Board of Supervisors since March 2019 and chaired the board from January 2023 to January 2025, according to Wikipedia. He served as mayor of Irvine from December 2016 to March 2019 and represented a district in the California State Assembly from December 2010 to November 2016.
Earlier, Wagner served as a trustee and board president of the South Orange County Community College District. He practiced law in Orange County for more than a decade, served as a judge pro tempore in Orange County Superior Court and was founding president of the Orange County chapter of the Federalist Society.
On the issues
Wagner outlined these positions in his official candidate statement and on his campaign website.
Election integrity and voter access. Wagner said he supports requiring photo ID at the polls. He said thirty-six states and most democratic nations require photo ID, and California does not, leaving election security weak. He also said California's voter rolls are outdated and that the state wastes millions mailing ballots to people who have moved or died. He pledged to clean up voter rolls. Wagner said he would make sure every eligible voter can participate while ensuring only eligible voters cast ballots.
Election administration. Wagner said he would speed up vote counting so California announces results on election night, rather than taking more than a month.
Government reform. Wagner said he wants the secretary of state's business division to be "small-business friendly" and that elections should be "secure, efficient, accurate, and accessible."
Endorsements
The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to CalMatters and BallotReady profile data:
- Reform California
- California GOP
- California Republican Assembly
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
- California Rifle and Pistol Association
- Los Angeles County GOP
- San Bernardino County GOP
- Santa Clara County GOP
- Alameda County GOP
- Monterey County GOP
- San Francisco GOP
- Bay Area GOP
- Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans
Candidate positions and statements are based on Wagner's official candidate statement filed with the California Secretary of State's office and responses provided through his campaign website. The Pasadena Ledger does not endorse candidates.
