So, you're looking for who won governor in California? Honestly, depending on when you’re asking, the answer is either "the same guy who’s had the keys for years" or "nobody yet, and it’s getting weird."
If you are looking for the last person to actually move into the Governor’s Mansion, that would be Gavin Newsom. He’s the 40th governor of the Golden State. He didn't just win; he kinda cruised. Back in November 2022, Newsom secured his second term by beating Republican State Senator Brian Dahle. It wasn't particularly close—Newsom walked away with about 59% of the vote compared to Dahle’s 41%.
Basically, California stayed deep blue.
But here is the thing: it’s January 2026 right now. Newsom is currently in the "lame duck" phase because California has strict lifetime term limits. He can’t run again. So, while Newsom is the guy currently sitting at the desk in Sacramento, the state is currently obsessed with who is going to replace him later this year.
How Gavin Newsom Kept His Seat
To understand the current political climate, you've gotta look at how Newsom solidified his power. He survived a pretty high-profile recall attempt in 2021 where people were literally voting on whether to kick him out mid-term. He beat that back with almost the exact same margins he saw in his 2018 and 2022 general elections.
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When the 2022 election rolled around, the drama was mostly gone. Brian Dahle, a farmer from Bieber (yes, that’s a real place in Lassen County), ran a grassroots campaign focused on the "forgotten" parts of California—rural areas, the Central Valley, and people frustrated with high gas prices. But in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one, a "grassroots" GOP campaign is a tough hill to climb.
Newsom didn't even spend much time campaigning against Dahle. He was busy running ads in Florida and Texas, picking fights with Ron DeSantis, and acting like a guy who might want to live in the White House one day.
The 2022 Numbers at a Glance:
- Gavin Newsom (D): ~6.47 million votes (59.2%)
- Brian Dahle (R): ~4.46 million votes (40.8%)
The 2026 Race: It's Wide Open and Kinda Wild
Since Newsom is termed out, the 2026 race is basically a free-for-all. As of mid-January 2026, there is no "winner" because the primary doesn't happen until June 2, 2026.
If you're following the polls right now, they are all over the place. A recent Emerson College poll from late 2025 showed that about a third of voters are still undecided. When people don't know who they want, the names with the most "TV face time" usually lead.
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Who is currently leading the pack?
Right now, the frontrunners are a mix of Bay Area progressives, SoCal representatives, and a couple of Republicans who are hoping the "Law and Order" message finally sticks.
- Eric Swalwell (D): The Congressman from the East Bay jumped in late but has huge name recognition from his time on cable news.
- Katie Porter (D): You've probably seen her with her whiteboard in Congressional hearings. She's got a massive small-donor base but has faced some recent heat over leaked videos of her being tough on staff.
- Chad Bianco (R): The Riverside County Sheriff. He wears a cowboy hat, hates Newsom’s policies, and is currently the top-polling Republican.
- Steve Hilton (R): A former advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron and a Fox News personality. He's trying to position himself as a "common sense" outsider.
- Antonio Villaraigosa (D): The former Mayor of Los Angeles. He’s the "moderate" in the room, trying to pull in the Latino vote and people who think the state has moved too far left.
Why Does This Matter Right Now?
California is the fifth-largest economy in the world. Whoever wins governor doesn't just manage a state; they manage a global powerhouse. People are focused on the "Big Three" issues: housing costs, homelessness, and crime.
There's also a weird tension regarding the national stage. Newsom just gave his final "State of the State" address on January 8, 2026. He’s clearly looking at what happens after his term ends in January 2027. He’s already hinted to CBS News that a 2028 presidential run is on the table. This makes the 2026 governor's race a proxy battle for the future of the Democratic Party.
What Most People Get Wrong About the California Vote
A lot of folks think California is just a monolith of San Francisco liberals. It’s not. If you look at the 2022 results, huge swaths of the state's interior voted for the Republican candidate.
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The "Jungle Primary" system is also something that trips people up. In California, all candidates—regardless of party—run on the same ballot in June. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election in November. This means we could easily end up with two Democrats running against each other in the final round, which is exactly what happened in several previous statewide races.
What You Should Do Next
If you are a California resident, the clock is ticking. The primary is June 2.
- Check your registration. If you’ve moved recently, you need to update your status by May 18, 2026.
- Watch the debates. There’s a major televised debate happening soon featuring Becerra, Porter, Swalwell, and Bianco. It’s the first time we’ll see them all spar over the $30 billion-plus budget deficit.
- Look past the ads. Billionaires like Tom Steyer are already dumping money into "climate-first" ads. Check the actual legislative records of people like Betty Yee or Tony Thurmond to see what they’ve actually done with state money.
The 2022 election was a "status quo" win. 2026 is shaping up to be a total reset. Stay tuned, because the next few months of campaigning are going to be loud, expensive, and incredibly important for the direction of the state.