Any candidate who hopes to be on the November 2020 ballot for Congress or state legislature (which are the only partisan offices on the 2020 ballot other than President) must file by December 6, 2019. This is because the California primary for all office is in March 2020, and the top-two system does not provide any method for a candidate to get on the November ballot except by placing first or second in the primary.
The December 6 deadline is extended a few days for offices in which the incumbent does not file for re-election.
Should be more advance notice of incumbents NOT running — about 6 months —
TO END having last second family/buddy hacks showing up.
IE – more ANTI-Democracy ROT.
The dead-line extends 5 extra calendar days (to December 11th) for any office where the Incumbent doesn’t run for re-election WHEN they are not term limited out for that office.