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Janelle Kellman Democratic

Running for Lieutenant Governor

Official statement

Self-written ballot statement from the CA Secretary of State voter guide.

Unusual phrasingCalifornia's Lieutenant Governor helps direct educational, environmental, and economic policy statewide.
Unusual phrasingInvest in disaster-preparedness programs to stabilize the insurance market; and 3.
Read the full statement

Janelle Kellman is a climate risk expert, local community leader, and disaster preparedness non-profit executive focused on solving the high cost-of-living crisis facing California. As an environmental lawyer with climate risk expertise, Janelle founded the Center for Sea Rise Solutions to help governments and local communities reduce economic risk from wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather—instead of passing on the costs of disasters to taxpayers. As a local community leader and Mayor of Sausalito, Janelle has led responses to flooding, sea level rise, and wildfires—securing millions of dollars to strengthen local infrastructure, which led to lower homeowner insurance premiums. Rather than waiting for someone else to act on homelessness, as Mayor, she declared a state of emergency for a local encampment and led a humanitarian response to move people into housing. Local homelessness has since dropped by more than half. California's Lieutenant Governor helps direct educational, environmental, and economic policy statewide. Janelle will: 1. Use her climate expertise to cut electricity bills in half over the next decade by changing how fire prevention is funded; 2. Invest in disaster-preparedness programs to stabilize the insurance market; and 3. Expand vocational and career-aligned education in our community colleges so that every student can contribute to California's climate tech, housing, service, and skilled trades. Resulting in cutting electricity bills, slashing home insurance costs, and making community colleges free for all California residents. JanelleKellman.com

Election history

Appears in 1 prior election.

2026
Withdrew
See also: California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary) General election The primary will occur on …

Where they stand

Issues their published 2026 campaign themes engage with. Click an issue to compare positions across candidates.

Mentions Housing & homelessness
…proach in handling complex, multi-stakeholder issues, Janelle easily solves challenges spanning climate risk, housing equity, and economic development. Her accomplishments include restructuring the city's finance departm…
Mentions Taxes & cost of living
…orce development, small businesses, and clean energy jobs, we can build a climate-smart economy that restores affordability across CA. The Lieutenant Governor holds significant power to shape our future. From serving as…
Mentions Abortion & reproductive rights
…ecades tackling the defining challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, housing, homelessness, reproductive rights, and equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. As Mayor, I wasn't just operating at a…
Mentions Climate & environment
…llaborative approach in handling complex, multi-stakeholder issues, Janelle easily solves challenges spanning climate risk, housing equity, and economic development. Her accomplishments include restructuring the city's f…
Mentions Public safety & criminal justice
…en’t isolated—they’re interconnected. As a climate risk expert and former mayor, I’ll tackle homelessness and public safety by expanding housing access, strengthening mental health support, and partnering with local lead…
Mentions Education
…eutenant Governor holds significant power to shape our future. From serving as a voting member of the state's university and college system boards to participating on the CA Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Commissio…
Full notes (markdown source)

Janelle Kellman

Office sought: Lieutenant Governor
Party: Democratic
Ballot designation: Environmental attorney

Background

Biography. Janelle Kellman was born in Hartford, Connecticut . She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1995 and a law degree from Stanford Law School in 1998. Her career experience includes roles as a nonprofit founder, environmental attorney, climate risk expert, and small business owner. She previously held positions as both mayor and planning commissioner in Sausalito, California . [1]

Prior offices and election history

2026

See also: California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary) General election The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for Lieutenant Governor of California The following candidates are running in the primary for Lieutenant Governor of California on June 2, 2026. Candidate Submit photo Rakesh Christian (No party preference) David Collenberg (R) Sean Collinson (No party preference) David Fennell (R) Josh Fryday (D) Janelle Kellman (D) Jeyson Lopez (D) Ebie Lynch (R) Fiona Ma (D) Oliver Ma (D) Tim Myers (D) Gloria J. Romero (R) Submit photo Skip Shelton (R) Abdur Sikder (D) Alice Stek (Peace and Freedom Party) Michael Tubbs (D) Submit photo James Cameron (R) (Write-in) There are no incumbents in this race. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Toni Atkins (D) Steven Bradford (D) Mike Schaefer (D) Brian Jones (R)

2026 — Endorsements

Kellman received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here . CalMatters Voter Guide (Sway voting group by CalMatters) East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club) Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles’ Voting Group (Sway voting group by Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles)

Issue positions (campaign themes)

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses See also: Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Janelle Kellman completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kellman’s responses. Expand all | Collapse all Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Janelle Kellman, Esq., is a passionate, action-oriented leader who is looking to make a change in the status quo. She served on the Sausalito City Council from 2020-2024 and as Mayor in 2022. Known for her collaborative approach in handling complex, multi-stakeholder issues, Janelle easily solves challenges spanning climate risk, housing equity, and economic development. Her accomplishments include restructuring the city’s finance department post-COVID, securing $2 million for sea level rise and infrastructure planning, and leading initiatives to address homelessness. A global climate leader, Janelle founded the Center for Sea Rise Solutions to address coastal resilience, workforce development, and ocean health. The nonprofit launched an international blue economy job creation program in partnership with the City and Port of Barcelona and the World Ocean Council. As Mayor, Janelle also launched a blue economy task force to revitalize Sausalito’s Marinship area, one of the nation’s last remaining working waterfronts. She is working with local, state, and federal partners to connect key players in workforce development and ocean health to catalyze job creation and on-shore micro-manufacturing in the maritime industry. Janelle holds an undergraduate degree in History from Yale, a Master’s in Environmental Management from Oxford, and a J.D. from Stanford Law. Janelle is a proud member of the Jewish and LGBTQ communities. She currently lives in the Bay Area. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? California’s economy, housing crisis, and climate risks aren’t isolated—they’re interconnected. As a climate risk expert and former mayor, I’ll tackle homelessness and public safety by expanding housing access, strengthening mental health support, and partnering with local leaders. I’ll also work to stabilize the insurance market and ensure our communities are resilient to wildfires, floods, and other climate-driven threats. I will bring an integrated vision where economic growth fuels local resilience, environmental protection reduces financial risk, and innovation drives down costs. By supporting workforce development, small businesses, and clean energy jobs, we can build a climate-smart economy that restores affordability across CA. The Lieutenant Governor holds significant power to shape our future. From serving as a voting member of the state’s university and college system boards to participating on the CA Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Commission, to alternating as Chair of the CA State Lands Commission and representing our economic interests globally — this office has incredible potential to drive meaningful action on housing, safety, economic resilience, and mental health. I’m running because, like many of us, I’m frustrated by politics-as-usual. I’m a fresh, dynamic leader who’s not afraid to have the hard conversations and turn good ideas into action. I’m committed to practical, common-sense solutions that will make a difference. I’ve spent the last two decades tackling the defining challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, housing, homelessness, reproductive rights, and equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. As Mayor, I wasn’t just operating at a high level, creating policy. I was dealing with real, on-the-ground issues that impacted our community. I worked to make sure that all people felt seen. I helped develop our first PRIDE festival, which is now celebrated yearly. I believe our state needs leaders who understand resilience not just as a buzzword, but as a lived experience. Leaders who know how to connect climate action with equity, innovation with inclusion, and policy with place. I’m running for a future where CA leads for all. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? A NEW kind of Democrat for a NEW California! Despite years of Democratic supermajority, the CA Dream is slipping out of reach for too many. We face a crisis of affordability, rising homelessness, growing climate risk, and economic instability—and it’s clear that business as usual isn’t working. It’s time for common-sense, results-driven solutions: More housing, backed by mental health and addiction services. Strong public safety policies that restore trust and protect communities. Bold action on climate risk and insurance to keep our homes livable and insurable. Support for small businesses and job training to strengthen local economies. I’m ready to bring a fresh, practical approach to CA politics—one that delivers results. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? As an endurance athlete, I’ve competed in over 15 ultramarathons, embodying the grit and resilience I brings to public service. My journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a leader in California shows my dedication to building a future where sustainability, opportunity, and community strength are at the forefront. My vision is clear: a thriving, resilient California for generations to come. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? The California Lieutenant Governor holds significant power to shape our future. From serving as a voting member of the state’s university and college system boards to participating on the CA Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Commission, to alternating as Chair of the CA State Lands Commission, representing California’s economic interests globally and chairing the California Commission for Economic Development — this office has incredible potential to drive meaningful action on housing,

Enrichment source: Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Janelle_Kellman

Sources