County clerk explains special‑election timeline for LaMalfa vacancy; voters may receive two ballots June 2

Keaton Denley, Butte County Clerk/Recorder and Registrar of Voters, told the board the governor set a special election to fill Congressman LaMalfa’s vacant U.S. House seat for Aug. 4, 2026, with a primary nine weeks earlier — June 2 — that will be conducted concurrently with the statewide primary but not consolidated.

Denley said that because the special election timeline uses separate candidate‑filing deadlines, the elections cannot be consolidated onto a single ballot. "Those 9 weeks come out to being June 2. We already have an election on June 2, which is the statewide primary ... We will have 2 elections on June 2. They will be conducted concurrently and not consolidated," Denley said. He warned voters will receive two separate packets and two separate ballots; anyone wishing to vote in both elections must return both ballots in their respective envelopes.

Denley said the county does not currently expect state reimbursement for the additional printing and postage costs, and that if a special primary yields a candidate with more than 50% of the vote on June 2, the August election would be canceled. He also noted the special election will be conducted using the old district maps for the remainder of the term, while the regular election will use newly adopted maps for subsequent terms.

Closing: County elections staff said they will continue public education and logistical planning and will return to the board with further details as preparations proceed.