“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, pursuant to Section 6000.2, of at least one of the following criteria:

(a) The candidate is qualified for funding under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 30101 et seq.).

(b) The candidate has appeared as a candidate in a national presidential debate hosted by a political party qualified to participate in a primary election, with at least two participating candidates, which is publicly available for viewing by voters in more than one state during the current presidential election cycle. For purposes of this subdivision, “political party qualified to participate in a primary election” means any political party qualified in California, a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in another state, or a national committee of a political party recognized by the Federal Election Commission.

(c) The candidate has been placed or has qualified for placement on a presidential primary ballot or a caucus ballot of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle.

(d) The candidate has been or has qualified to be a candidate in a caucus of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle.

(e) The candidate has all of the following:

(1) A current presidential campaign internet website or webpage hosted by the candidate or a qualified political party.

(2) A written request submitted on the candidate’s behalf to the Secretary of State requesting that the candidate be placed on the presidential primary ballot. The written request shall be from a party qualified to participate in a primary election, as set forth in Section 5100.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 149, Sec. 1. (SB 505) Effective July 30, 2019.)