Who Is Running for California Governor in 2026? Candidates & Polls

California voters are staring down an unusual political moment in 2026: for the first time since 2018, the governor’s office is an open seat. Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited, and a crowded field of 10 candidates—eight Democrats and two Republicans—has already filed to replace him. The June 2 primary will use California’s top-two system, meaning the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party, and the general election follows on November 3.

Candidates in the race: 10 ·
Democratic candidates: 8 ·
Republican candidates: 2 ·
Primary election date: June 2, 2026 ·
General election date: November 3, 2026 ·
Incumbent: Gavin Newsom (term-limited)

Who is running for California governor in 2026?

Overview of the field

Ten candidates have officially filed to run for California governor in 2026, creating the state’s first wide-open gubernatorial race in eight years. The field includes eight Democrats and two Republicans, according to CalMatters (nonprofit California news). Because California uses a top-two primary system, voters will choose from all candidates regardless of party on June 2, 2026, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.

Key candidates from major parties

The most prominent Democrats include Xavier Becerra (former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general), Katie Porter (former U.S. representative from Orange County), and Tom Steyer (billionaire entrepreneur and climate activist). Among Republicans, Steve Hilton—a former Fox News host and adviser to British prime minister David Cameron—leads the field and has been endorsed by Donald Trump. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is the other Republican candidate.

Who are the Democrats running for California governor in 2026?

List of Democratic candidates

Eight Democrats filed to run. Two of them—Eric Swalwell (U.S. representative from Dublin) and Betty Yee (former state controller)—suspended their campaigns after ballots were printed, so they will still appear on the primary ballot. The six active Democratic candidates are Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa (former Los Angeles mayor), Tony Thurmond (state superintendent of public instruction), and Matt Mahan (mayor of San Jose), per CalMatters (nonprofit California news).

The Democratic field breaks into two tiers: three candidates with national profiles and three with state and local executive experience.

The implication: voters face a choice between proven federal and state credentials, with no single candidate holding a clear institutional advantage.

Notable candidates: Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer

Xavier Becerra served as California attorney general from 2017 to 2021 before becoming U.S. Health and Human Services secretary under President Biden, where he oversaw Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Katie Porter represented Orange County’s 47th district in Congress from 2019 to 2025 and gained national attention for her sharp questioning of corporate executives during committee hearings. Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder, spent over $300 million on his 2020 presidential campaign and has since focused on climate advocacy through his group NextGen America.

Who are the Republicans running for California governor in 2026?

List of Republican candidates

Two Republicans filed for the 2026 California governor race: Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. In a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by roughly 2-to-1, the Republican candidates face a steep climb. The top-two primary may still advance one of them to November if the Democratic vote splits among multiple candidates.

The two Republican candidates offer starkly different profiles: one is a media-savvy political strategist, the other a career law enforcement officer.

The pattern: Hilton has the endorsements and media platform; Bianco has boots-on-the-ground policing credibility. Neither has a realistic path to winning a general election in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.

Steve Hilton as the frontrunner

Steve Hilton is the only Republican with statewide name recognition. A British-born political strategist who advised UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Hilton moved to California and hosted “The Next Revolution” on Fox News from 2021 to 2024. His campaign focuses on crime reduction, education reform, and economic growth, echoing Trump’s “law and order” messaging. Hilton’s endorsement from Donald Trump (via CalMatters) gives him credibility with the Republican base, but his British upbringing and past support for centrist policies—including a carbon tax—may draw attacks from the party’s far-right wing.

The second Republican candidate, Chad Bianco, is Riverside County sheriff. Bianco is less known statewide but has deep law enforcement credentials and could appeal to voters prioritizing public safety in the primary.

Why is Gavin Newsom not running for governor in 2026?

Term limits explanation

California limits governors to two four-year terms under Article V of the state constitution. Gavin Newsom was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022; he is therefore term-limited and legally barred from appearing on the 2026 ballot. This is not a choice—it is a binding constitutional constraint with no provision for referendums or overrides by the legislature.

Newsom’s future plans

Newsom has not announced any other political plans for 2026, though speculation persists about a future presidential run. He has been active in national Democratic politics, frequently traveling to other states to campaign for Biden and for down-ballot Democrats. For now, California voters are focused on replacing him with one of the ten candidates on the primary ballot.

What do the polls say about the 2026 California governor candidates?

Polling among Democrats

Early polling in early 2026 suggests a tight Democratic primary. According to NBC News (major television network reporting), Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, and Katie Porter have “distinguished themselves from the larger field.” No single candidate holds a clear double-digit lead. CalMatters characterized the race as “the most competitive gubernatorial primary in years,” with two Democrats and one Republican emerging as leading contenders.

General election matchup speculation

No reliable general election polls exist yet because the field is still forming. However, political analysts at ABC7 (local television affiliate) note that any Democratic nominee starts with a structural advantage: California has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, and Democrats hold every statewide office. The general election narrative will likely center on which candidate can unite the party’s progressive and moderate wings while appealing to independent voters who make up roughly one-quarter of the electorate.

Two polls show a clear pattern: the Democratic race is a three-way contest within the margin of error, while Steve Hilton consolidates Republican support.

The implication: Hilton’s 30%+ share among Republicans suggests he is the clear GOP nominee; the Democratic winner will emerge from a contested June 2 primary, possibly wounded by internal party divisions.

Confirmed facts vs. unclear questions

What we know

• Ten candidates filed: eight Democrats, two Republicans (CalMatters — tier-1 source)
• The primary election is June 2, 2026; the general election is November 3, 2026 (Wikipedia)
• Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run again (Wikipedia)
• Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer are the leading Democratic contenders (NBC News)
• Steve Hilton leads Republicans and is endorsed by Trump (CalMatters)

What remains unclear

• Which Democrat will win the June 2 primary—polls show a three-way race within the margin of error
• Whether the top-two primary produces a Democrat-vs-Republican general or two Democrats (if Republican vote splits)
• How many votes suspended candidates (Swalwell, Yee) will draw from the active candidates on June 2
• Final campaign fundraising totals and ad spending figures as the primary approaches

What the candidates say

“The field is set: 10 candidates are running for California governor in the June 2 open primary.”

— CalMatters (nonprofit California news)

“Two Democrats, former Cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire Tom Steyer, and one Republican, Trump-endorsed commentator Steve Hilton, are leading in early polls.”

— NBC News (major television network)

“The governor’s race narrowed to three leading candidates, two Democrats and one Republican, in what observers described as the most competitive gubernatorial primary in years.”

— ABC7 (local television affiliate)

Summary

California’s 2026 gubernatorial election is the state’s most consequential open-seat race in nearly a decade. With Gavin Newsom term-limited, a crowded field of eight Democrats and two Republicans is vying to lead the nation’s most populous state through housing crises, climate adaptation, and fiscal challenges. The June 2 primary will test whether California’s top-two system produces a competitive general election or a Democratic-on-Democratic runoff. For the state’s 22 million registered voters, the choice is clear: engage early with the primary, or risk seeing the final decision shaped by a small slice of the electorate on a June Tuesday.

For a closer look at how the candidates performed, check out the latest gubernatorial debate for key takeaways and analysis.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Kristi Noem Before Plastic Surgery: The Full Timeline · Writ of Habeas Corpus: Meaning, Examples, and Landmark Cases