With the 2026 gubernatorial election on the horizon, Californians have the opportunity to forefront the conversation about water. Elections are one of those rare moments when a new vision for large, entrenched systems can be put forward.   When voters can ask not only what is broken, but what kind of future we want to build. Few issues touch every Californian as directly as water, and few offer as much potential for a shared conversation about values, fairness, and durable solutions.