ARTICLE 5.5. Succession to the Office of Governor [12058. - 12059.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 5.5.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12058. Section 12058.

In case of vacancy in the office of Governor and in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the last duly elected President pro Tempore of the Senate shall become Governor for the residue of the term; or if there be no President pro Tempore of the Senate, then the last duly elected Speaker of the Assembly shall become Governor for the residue of the term; or if there be none, then the Secretary of State; or if there be none, then the Attorney General; or if there be none, then the Treasurer; or if there be none, then the Controller; or if there be none, then the Superintendent of Public Instruction; or if there be none, then the Insurance Commissioner; or if there be none, then the Chair of the Board of Equalization; or if, as the result of a war or enemy-caused disaster, there be none, then such person designated as provided by law. In case of impeachment of the Governor or officer acting as Governor, the Governor’s absence from the state, or other temporary disability to discharge the powers and duties of office, then the powers and duties of the office of Governor devolve upon the same officer as in the case of vacancy in the office of Governor, but only until the disability shall cease.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12058.5. Section 12058.5.

In case of the death, disability or other failure to take office of the Governor-elect, whether occurring prior or subsequent to the returns of election, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall act as Governor from the same time and in the same manner as provided for the Governor-elect and shall, in the case of death, be Governor for the full term or, in the case of disability or other failure to take office, shall act as Governor until the disability of the Governor-elect shall cease.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 12059. Section 12059.

In case of the death, disability, or other failure to take office of both the Governor-elect and the Lieutenant Governor-elect, the last duly elected President pro Tempore of the Senate, or in case of the President pro Tempore’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the last duly elected Speaker of the Assembly, or in case of the Speaker’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Secretary of State-elect, or in case of the Secretary of State-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Attorney General-elect, or in case of the Attorney General-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Treasurer-elect, or in case of the Treasurer-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Controller-elect, or in case of the Controller-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect, or in case of the Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the Insurance Commissioner-elect, or in case of the Insurance Commissioner-elect’s death, disability, or other failure to take office, the last duly elected Chair of the Board of Equalization shall act as Governor from the same time and in the same manner as provided for the Governor-elect. The person shall, in the case of death, be Governor for the full term or in the case of disability or other failure to take office shall act as Governor until the disability of the Governor-elect shall cease.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026