Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom was ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits and ran for governor of California instead.

Democrats Eleni Kounalakis and Ed Hernandez faced each other in the general election, as no Republican finished in the top two positions of the nonpartisan blanket primary that was held on June 5, 2018.

Cyan represents counties won by Ed Hernandez.

Light blue represents counties with Democratic vote pluralities.

Light red represents counties with Republican vote pluralities.