2020 California Republican presidential primary
The 2020 California Republican presidential primary took place on March 3, 2020. California primary election law. On July 30, 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 27 (SB 27) into law, effective immediately, requiring that all presidential candidates release five years of tax returns in order to be eligible for the state primary. In August 2019, Trump sued the State of California, seeking to block implementation of the law SB 27, asserting that the law is unconstitutional. On September 19, 2019, U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England issued a temporary injunction blocking the law  from taking effect. California is appealing; California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said: "Our elected leaders have a legal and moral obligation to be transparent with voters about potential conflicts of interest. This law is fundamental to preserving and protecting American democracy." California's Supreme Court ruled that Senate Bill 27 could not come into effect. According to "The Sacramento Bee", this means that "President Donald Trump won't have to release his tax returns to get on California's 2020 primary ballot". Alternative convention. After Governor Newsom signed the bill, the Republican state committee met in emergency session to  set up an alternative convention in order to give him all their delegates should the secretary of the state bar him because of his refusal to submit his taxes. After the supreme court's action in November 2019, plans for an alternative convention were shelved. Candidates. To qualify for ballot access, a candidate must be determined by the Secretary of State to be a generally-recognized candidate, or by circulating nomination papers. "Generally advocated for or recognized candidate" or "recognized candidate" means an individual who has an authorized campaign committee registered with the Federal Election Commission for the office of  President of the United States and submits proof of at least one of the following criteria: Among the challengers to President Trump who have submitted their applications with enough qualifications are New York advertising executive Robert Ardini and Manhattan Beach attorney Matthew Matern.