The answer is Gavin Newsom. Honestly, it feels like he’s been the face of California politics forever, but he's officially the 40th person to hold the job. He’s a Democrat, a former mayor of San Francisco, and a guy who is currently staring down the barrel of his final year in office.
If you're asking this because you just moved here or you're trying to settle a bet, there's your answer. But there is a lot more going on under the surface right now. California is a massive machine, and being the person at the steering wheel in 2026 is... complicated.
Why Everyone is Talking About Gavin Newsom Right Now
We are in January 2026. Newsom is deep into his "lame duck" phase because California has strict term limits. He can't run again. Just last week, on January 8th, he stood in front of the state legislature and gave his final State of the State address. It was kind of a "greatest hits" tour mixed with a fierce defense of California’s liberal values against the federal landscape.
He’s currently managing a $248.3 billion General Fund budget. That sounds like a fake number because it’s so big, but it’s real. He just proposed the 2026-27 budget a few days ago, on January 9th. Surprisingly, the deficit is only about $2.9 billion—much smaller than the nightmare scenarios people were predicting last year. He’s basically betting the house that the AI boom in Silicon Valley will keep the state’s tax coffers full.
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The Newsom Backstory (The Short Version)
- Early Days: He started out in the wine business—ever heard of PlumpJack? That was him.
- San Francisco Mayor: He became famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) in 2004 for issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples way before it was legal nationally.
- The Recall: People tried to fire him in 2021. They failed. He won that recall election with about 62% of the vote.
- Current Focus: He’s obsessed with homelessness, climate change, and "reproductive freedom."
The Governor of California Explained: What Happens Next?
Since Newsom is packing his bags (politically speaking), the real question people are starting to ask is: who is the next governor of California?
The state is already gearing up for the June 2, 2026, primary. It is a wide-open field. Kinda messy, actually. Because California uses a "top-two" primary system, the two people with the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of their party. You could literally end up with two Democrats running against each other in November.
Who is Lining Up to Replace Him?
It's a long list. Seriously.
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Eleni Kounalakis, the current Lieutenant Governor, was the first to jump in. She’s got the "insider" advantage. Then you've got Xavier Becerra, who was Biden’s Health Secretary. He’s got massive name recognition.
On the more "outsider" or "celebrity" side, you have billionaire Tom Steyer. And on the Republican side, Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, is making a lot of noise. He’s the guy who wears the cowboy hat and talks about "taking the state back."
What Does the Governor Actually Do?
Basically, they are the CEO of the world’s fifth-largest economy. If California were its own country, it would be wealthier than India or the UK.
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- The Budget: This is the big one. Every January, the Governor drops a massive spending plan. By June, they have to wrestle with the Legislature to get it signed.
- Veto Power: They can kill any bill passed by the state Assembly or Senate.
- Commander-in-Chief: They lead the California National Guard. When the wildfires get bad—and they always do—the Governor is the one declaring emergencies and directing the response.
- Appointments: They pick the people who run the DMV, the state parks, and even fill vacancies in the courts.
Newsom has used this power pretty aggressively. He’s signed executive orders to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 and has pushed for major "Right to Housing" initiatives. Whether those things are actually working is a heated debate you'll hear in any coffee shop from Redding to San Diego.
Dealing with the "California Exodus"
You’ve probably heard the rumors that everyone is leaving California. While the population did dip for the first time in history a couple of years ago, the "exodus" is a bit of an exaggeration. However, it is a massive political headache for the Governor.
The cost of living is the real killer. Newsom’s 2026 budget tries to address this by keeping funding for "universal transitional kindergarten" (free preschool for 4-year-olds), but critics say it doesn't do enough for middle-class families struggling with $5 gas and $800,000 "starter" homes.
Key Facts About the Governor’s Office
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current Term Ends | January 4, 2027 |
| Salary | Approximately $234,101 per year |
| Residence | The Governor's Mansion in Sacramento (though Newsom’s family often stays in Fair Oaks) |
| Party | Democratic |
Actionable Steps for Californians
If you want to have a say in who the next Governor of California is, you need to be ready for the 2026 cycle. Here is what you should actually do:
- Check your voter registration: Don't assume you're registered. Go to the Secretary of State website and double-check.
- Mark June 2, 2026: That is the primary. In California, the primary is often more important than the general election because it thins out the field.
- Follow the "May Revise": Keep an eye on the news in May. That’s when Newsom will update his budget proposal based on how much tax money actually came in. It tells you exactly where the state's priorities (and your tax dollars) are going.
- Look beyond the ads: Candidates for 2026 are going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on TV commercials. Look at their actual voting records—especially if they’ve served in Congress or the State Legislature before.
The Governor of California isn't just a figurehead; they're the person who decides if your kids' school gets more funding or if your local highway gets fixed. Whether you love Gavin Newsom or can't wait for him to leave, the next 12 months are going to be a wild ride in California politics.