It feels like Gavin Newsom has been in office forever, doesn't it? But the clock is ticking. By the time June 2026 rolls around, California will be staring down a primary ballot that looks more like a CVS receipt than a shortlist. If you haven't been keeping track, don't worry. Honestly, the list of ca governor candidates 2026 has changed so much in the last six months that even the political junkies in Sacramento are having trouble keeping their spreadsheets updated.
There’s a lot of noise. You’ve got billionaires jumping in, former mayors trying for a comeback, and the "whiteboard queen" herself looking to move from D.C. back to the West Coast.
The Big Names Who Are Actually In (And Who Bailed)
Most people thought Rob Bonta, the State Attorney General, was a shoo-in for a run. Wrong. In early January 2026, Bonta basically told everyone he’s staying put. He said he needs to be the "battle-tested" prosecutor defending California against the federal administration in D.C. instead of chasing the governorship. That was a massive earthquake for the field.
Then there’s Eleni Kounalakis. She was the first one to announce, way back in 2023. But she pulled a 180 in August 2025 and dropped out of the governor's race to run for State Treasurer instead. It turns out, even with Nancy Pelosi’s unofficial nod, the polling just wasn't there for her.
So, who is left? Let’s look at the heavy hitters:
Katie Porter
You know her. The whiteboard. The sharp questioning of CEOs. After her Senate bid didn't pan out, she’s eyeing the Governor’s mansion. She has name recognition that most of these candidates would kill for, but she’s also fighting for the same progressive lane as several others.
Eric Swalwell
The Bay Area Congressman jumped in late 2025. He’s leaning hard into his role as a national Trump critic. He actually got a boost when businessman Stephen Cloobeck dropped out and handed him an endorsement.
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Xavier Becerra
The former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary is back in the mix. He’s got the D.C. resume and the Sacramento history, but he’s already catching some flak in early headlines about his federal tenure.
Antonio Villaraigosa
The former L.A. Mayor is 71 now, but he told CalMatters he has "the energy of a teenager." He’s positioning himself as the "problem solver" and the moderate in a room full of progressives. He tried this in 2018 and came in third. Can he do it differently this time?
The Money and the Wildcards
California elections are insanely expensive. Like, "don't even bother if you don't have $50 million" expensive. That’s why Tom Steyer is such a massive factor. The billionaire climate activist jumped in recently. He doesn't need to spend his time calling donors; he can just write a check. That makes him dangerous to the establishment candidates who have to spend four hours a day on the phone begging for money.
Then you have the "numbers people." Betty Yee, the former State Controller, is running on a platform of "making things add up." She’s been in the weeds of the state budget for decades. She isn't as flashy as Porter or Swalwell, but she knows where the bodies are buried in the state treasury.
On the Republican side, things are... interesting. California hasn't elected a GOP governor since Schwarzenegger. But Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, is polling surprisingly well. He’s the "cowboy hat" candidate who wants to overturn sanctuary laws and loosen business regulations. He’s neck-and-neck with Porter in some early polls, mostly because the Republican vote is less split than the Democratic one.
What Really Matters: The Issues Being Ignored
While the candidates talk about "values" and "leadership," Californians are mostly worried about the fact that they can't afford a bungalow in Fresno, let alone San Francisco.
- The Housing Math: Tony Thurmond, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, is running on a wild goal of building two million housing units on surplus state land. It’s ambitious. Maybe too ambitious? But at least it's a specific number.
- Public Safety: This is Villaraigosa and Bianco's bread and butter. Expect to hear a lot about retail theft and "fixing" Proposition 47.
- The Federal Conflict: With the current political climate in D.C., every Democrat in this race is trying to prove they are the toughest shield against federal policies.
The Republican Dilemma
Steve Hilton is the other big GOP name. You might recognize him from Fox News or his time advising David Cameron in the UK. He’s trying to bring a sort of "populist policy" vibe to the race. The problem for Hilton and Bianco is the math. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in this state. For a Republican to make the top two in June, they need to consolidate the entire GOP base and hope the Democrats split their 60% of the vote seven ways.
Actually, that’s exactly what might happen.
If you have six major Democrats all taking 8-10% of the vote, a Republican with 15% could easily slide into the general election. But winning in November? That’s a whole different mountain to climb.
How to Track the Race Moving Forward
Don't get distracted by the TV ads yet. They haven't even started the real blitz. The first big moment to watch is the February 3, 2026 debate in San Francisco. It’s being moderated by journalists from KTVU and FOX 11. That’s when we’ll see who can actually hold their own when the whiteboard isn't there to help.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on the ca governor candidates 2026, keep an eye on these three things:
- Fundraising Deadlines: If a candidate isn't hitting the $5 million mark by the next filing, they are basically a ghost.
- The "Caruso" Factor: Billionaire Rick Caruso hasn't officially jumped in yet, but he’s still showing up in polls. If he enters, the moderate lane gets very crowded.
- Endorsements from Labor: In California, the big unions (teachers, nurses, SEIU) are the kingmakers. Watch where their money goes in early 2026.
The primary is June 2. Between now and then, expect a lot of mud-slinging about who is "true Californian" enough to lead the world's fifth-largest economy. It’s going to be messy, expensive, and probably a little exhausting. But hey, that's California politics.
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To stay informed, verify your voter registration status now through the California Secretary of State website. Early voting for the June primary starts weeks before the actual date, and with a field this crowded, every single vote will determine which two names actually make it to the November finish line.