If you’re wondering who governor of California is right now, the short answer is Gavin Newsom. But honestly, just saying his name doesn’t really cover what's actually happening in Sacramento these days. We’re in January 2026, and the vibe in California politics is, well, intense. Newsom is currently serving out the final year of his second term. He's been in the seat since 2019, but as he prepares to "term out" in early 2027, the focus has shifted from just governing to what comes next—both for him and for the state.
California doesn’t do "lame duck" periods quietly.
Newsom recently delivered his final State of the State address on January 8, 2026. It wasn't just a victory lap. He spent a lot of time talking about "California’s unique spirit" and laying out a 2026-27 budget that tries to balance some pretty massive deficits while still funding big-ticket items like education and climate resilience. You've probably seen him in the news lately sparring with federal policies or positioning California as a "nation-state" that goes its own way. It's a role he seems to relish.
Why Who Governor of California Is Matters More Than Ever in 2026
The person sitting in that office isn't just a state manager. They control the fifth-largest economy in the world. When people ask who governor of California is, they’re usually trying to figure out where the state is headed on things like housing, gas prices, and those ever-present budget battles.
Right now, Newsom is leaning hard into his "California Model." He just proposed a budget that would increase state reserves to $23 billion by the end of the next fiscal year. That sounds great on paper, but if you live here, you know the daily reality is a bit more complicated. People are still feeling the squeeze of housing costs, and the governor is under a ton of pressure to show that his policies—like the massive housing-and-permitting package he pushed through in 2025—are actually working.
He’s also busy signing a flurry of bills. Just last October, he signed nearly 800 of them into law. One of the big ones for 2026 is the expansion of the CalRx program, which is supposed to drop the price of naloxone to just $19 starting this month. It’s those kinds of "ground-level" details that define his current daily grind.
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The Road to the Governor’s Mansion
Gavin Newsom didn't just pop out of nowhere. He’s a San Francisco guy through and through. He started out as a small business owner—the PlumpJack Group, mostly wine and hospitality—before getting into the political weeds. He was the Mayor of San Francisco back in the early 2000s, where he famously (or infamously, depending on who you asked then) directed the city clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples way before it was the national norm.
He served as Lieutenant Governor under Jerry Brown for eight years. That’s a long time to wait in the wings. When he finally won the governorship in 2018, he did it with a massive margin. He even survived a high-profile recall attempt in 2021. Love him or hate him, he’s a survivor.
The Massive 2026 Race to Replace Him
Since Newsom can't run again, everyone is looking at the 2026 election. This is where things get really wild. If you're looking up who governor of California will be next, the field is already crowded.
The primary is coming up in June 2026, and the list of candidates sounds like a "who’s who" of California power players. You’ve got:
- Eric Swalwell: The Congressman who recently jumped in and is already shaking up the polls.
- Katie Porter: Known for her whiteboards in D.C., she’s a heavy hitter in the Democratic field.
- Chad Bianco: The Riverside County Sheriff who’s running as a "law and order" Republican and isn't afraid to wear a cowboy hat while doing it.
- Steve Hilton: A former advisor to Boris Johnson and a Fox News personality, bringing a different kind of energy to the GOP side.
- Xavier Becerra: The former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.
Honestly, the polling is all over the place. A recent Emerson College poll showed about 31% of voters are still undecided. That is a huge chunk of the electorate that hasn't made up its mind yet. It’s basically a free-for-all at this point.
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What the Governor is Dealing With Today
The job isn't just about ribbon-cutting. Newsom is currently staring down some pretty grim budget realities. The 2025-26 budget required some serious "solutions"—which is political-speak for cuts and borrowing—to fill a gap.
There’s a lot of talk about a "revenue window" that might help, but critics are already calling for more aggressive tax solutions. Newsom, meanwhile, is trying to protect his legacy. He’s pushing for "CEQA streamlining" to build high-speed rail and housing faster. He's also dealing with the "West Coast Health Alliance," a coalition he helped launch to protect public health data. It's a lot of spinning plates.
Beyond the Person: How the Office Works
Sometimes people ask who governor of California is because they want to know who to blame for their taxes or the state of the local park. It’s worth noting that while the Governor is the face of the state, they share power with a massive Legislature.
In California, the Governor has the power to line-item veto. This means he can literally cross out specific spending items in a bill without killing the whole thing. It’s a huge power that Newsom uses frequently. He also appoints thousands of people to boards and commissions—everything from the Board of Forestry to the Medical Board. As of mid-January 2026, he’s still making dozens of appointments a week, essentially seeding the state government with people who share his vision before he leaves.
The Newsom Legacy?
What will people remember about this era?
Maybe the climate goals—he’s pushed for 100% clean energy and signed bills to end the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
Or maybe the "Right to Housing" initiatives.
Or perhaps the "partisan warrior" persona he’s adopted lately.
He’s increasingly viewed through the lens of a potential presidential run in 2028, and every move he makes in Sacramento is scrutinized for how it might play in Iowa or New Hampshire.
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What You Should Do Next
If you're following California politics, the next few months are going to be a rollercoaster.
First, keep an eye on the May Revision. This is when the Governor updates the budget based on April tax receipts. It usually tells the real story of the state’s financial health.
Second, if you’re a voter, start looking at the 2026 gubernatorial candidates now. The first major debate is scheduled for February 3, 2026, in San Francisco. It will feature six of the top candidates, including Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee. Watching that will give you a much better sense of who might be taking over the corner office in a year.
Finally, check the status of local ballot measures for the June primary. Often, the person who becomes governor is the one who most successfully aligns themselves with the "mood" of the voters on these specific issues, whether it's crime, the economy, or schools. Staying informed on these milestones is the best way to understand not just who the governor is, but where the power in California is actually moving.