<div class="css-17ih8de interactive-body"><!-- birdkit: do not modify this file --> <!-- birdkit: html header automatically hoisted to the head --> <div class="birdkit-body g-bk-QDSgJylvqzq_Ng g-dark-mode-incompatible" data-birdkit-hydrate="64e906aa8a0385aa" data-preview-slug="bk-QDSgJylvqzq_Ng" id="g-bk-QDSgJylvqzq_Ng"> <!--[--><!--[--><!-- --><!-- --><!--[--><!--[--><!-- --><div class="g-header-wrapper g-align-center svelte-1be4jjt"><div class="g-header-container g-theme-news g-align-center g-style-extrabold svelte-1jq90wr" style="--g-header-text-wrap:balance"><header class="g-header svelte-1jq90wr"><!--[!--><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--> <div class="g-heading-wrapper svelte-1jq90wr"><h1 class="g-heading svelte-1i7yooy"><!-- -->Who’s Running for<br/>Governor of California?<!-- --></h1><!-- --></div> <!--[!--><!--]--> <!--[--><div class="g-sharetools svelte-1jq90wr"><div class="g-sharetools-wrapper svelte-1czjxe4 g-align-center"><span class="svelte-1czjxe4" data-disable="" 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class="css-eap6fy" height="18" viewbox="0 0 12 18" width="12"><g fill-rule="nonzero"><path class="saved-fill" d="M1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268z"></path><path class="saved-stroke" d="m12 18-5.9-4.756L0 17.98V1.014C0 .745.095.487.265.297.435.107.664 0 .904 0h10.192c.24 0 .47.107.64.297.169.19.264.448.264.717V18ZM1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268H1.158Z"></path></g></svg></button></li></ul></div></div></div></span></div><!-- --></div><!--]--> <!--[--><div class="g-byline-wrapper svelte-1jq90wr"><p class="g-byline svelte-g4k5gy"><!--[!--><!--]--> <!--[--><span class="g-last-byline svelte-g4k5gy"><!-- -->By Jill Cowan and Laurel Rosenhall<!-- --></span><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--></p><!-- --> <span class="g-timestamp-wrapper"><time class="g-interactive-timestamp svelte-1v3bp8y" datetime="2026-03-05T03:25:30-05:00"><!--[2-->March 5, 2026<!--]--></time><!-- --></span></div><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--></header></div><!-- --></div><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><div id="05nat-ca-govcandidates"><!--[--><!--[--><!-- --><div><!--[--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->When Gavin Newsom was first elected California’s governor in 2018, he had the backing of a powerful Democratic political machine that made him seem almost anointed. Mr. Newsom beat a handful of lesser-known Democrats in the primary election, then defeated the Trump-endorsed businessman John Cox to win with the largest share of votes ever.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->But now, Mr. Newsom’s time as governor is ending — he cannot run again because of term limits — and so is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/california-governor-democratic-political-machine.html">the political era</a> that produced him. Representative Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco titan who supported his rise, is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/us/politics/nancy-pelosi-house-retire.html">set to retire at the end of her term next year</a>.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->With no clear successor, the contest to replace Mr. Newsom is wide open. Two nationally known figures, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Alex Padilla, weighed running but did not jump into the race.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->That has left a cluster of lesser-known Democrats, two Republicans and a Green candidate to fight for the attention of voters, who have expressed frustration with high housing prices, homelessness and the state’s difficult relationship with the Trump administration.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Under California’s election system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary on June 2 will advance to the November election, regardless of their party affiliation. If the state’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate splits its votes among the many Democratic candidates, there is a small chance that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/california-governor-democratic-political-machine.html">two Republicans could advance to the general election.</a><!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Here is an overview of the principal candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><div class="g-paid svelte-1va431l"><div class="place-ad" data-position="mid0" data-size-key="default" id="mid0"></div></div><!-- --> <div class="g-article svelte-1wvqlhe"><!--[--><h3 class="svelte-1wvqlhe">Running</h3> <div class="section-wrapper svelte-1wvqlhe" id="running"><!--[--><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Xavier Becerra<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Former Biden cabinet secretary</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Xavier Becerra in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/xavier_becerra.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Becerra was President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s secretary of health and human services. Before that, he led California’s legal battles <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/us/becerra-california-governor-harris.html">against the Trump administration</a> as the state’s attorney general during President Trump’s first term, filing dozens of lawsuits over environmental policy, health care and immigration. Mr. Becerra also spent more than two decades representing a Los Angeles district in Congress. His campaign for governor has been flagging, based on polls and fund-raising.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Chad Bianco<!-- --></span> <span class="party rep svelte-14bu0k9">Rep.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Sheriff of Riverside County</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image rep svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Chad Bianco in front of a red background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/chad_bianco.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->In 2018, Mr. Bianco, a longtime law enforcement officer, was elected sheriff of Riverside County, a fast-growing rural area east of Los Angeles that has historically been more conservative. His campaign for governor has been endorsed by numerous law enforcement organizations and a prominent gun-rights group. Despite his conservative record, Mr. Bianco has repeatedly been attacked by Laura Loomer, a Trump-aligned influencer, as being insufficiently MAGA.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Steve Hilton<!-- --></span> <span class="party rep svelte-14bu0k9">Rep.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Former Fox News host</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image rep svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Steve Hilton in front of a red background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/steve_hilton.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who worked in conservative politics in Britain, moved to Silicon Valley for his wife’s job at Google in 2012. His <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/us/politics/steve-hilton-former-fox-news-host-is-running-for-california-governor.html">campaign for governor</a> has received support from Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media magnate, who has donated the maximum amount permitted. Mr. Hilton has focused on traditional Republican messages, calling for reducing taxes and regulations and for enacting tough-on-crime policies.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Matt Mahan<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Mayor of San Jose</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Matt Mahan in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/matt_mahan.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Mahan, who is known as a moderate, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/elections/matt-mahan-governor-california.html">entered the race</a> in late January and quickly amassed millions of dollars in donations from Silicon Valley executives and other business leaders. Though he is little known statewide, Mr. Mahan could be competitive statewide in this unpredictable race because of their support. Mr. Mahan, a frequent critic of Mr. Newsom, has focused on local issues such as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/san-jose-homeless-arrest.html">homelessness</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/us/california-crime-punishment-jail.html">crime</a>, steering away from overt attacks on President Trump.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Katie Porter<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Professor</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Katie Porter in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/katie_porter.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Ms. Porter, a former congresswoman, is teaching at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She had won over voters inside and beyond her purple congressional district in Orange County with a whiteboard and pragmatic progressivism before <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/us/katie-porter-california-senate-primary.html">leaving her seat to run for Senate</a>, placing third in the primary in 2024. Ms. Porter was considered a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/katie-porter-california-governor.html">top contender for governor</a> until two <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/katie-porter-videos-response.html">videos of her</a> losing her temper went viral, leaving opponents an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/katie-porter-videos-california-governor.html">opening for attack</a>.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Tom Steyer<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Entrepreneur and environmental activist</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Tom Steyer in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/tom_steyer.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Steyer, a San Francisco <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-steyer/">billionaire</a> who made his fortune running a hedge fund, has been active in politics since leaving the finance world in 2012. He ran a brief <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/us/politics/tom-steyer-drops-out.html">campaign for president</a> in 2020 and has bankrolled numerous California ballot measures, including efforts to safeguard the state’s landmark environmental policy and raise taxes on cigarettes to pay for health care. Mr. Steyer has poured $38 million of his own funds into his <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/us/tom-steyer-california-governor-2026.html">campaign for governor</a>, raising his standing in the polls with an onslaught of TV ads promoting his progressive positions.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Eric Swalwell<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">U.S. Representative</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Eric Swalwell in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/eric_swalwell.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- --><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/us/eric-swalwell-california-governor.html">Mr. Swalwell</a>, a former prosecutor who represents a suburban House district in the San Francisco Bay Area, became a frequent guest on cable news after helping to manage the 2021 impeachment of Mr. Trump. While he is relatively inexperienced in state government, he is leaning on his relentless social media criticism of the Trump administration as he runs for governor.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Tony Thurmond<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">State superintendent of public instruction</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Tony Thurmond in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/tony_thurmond.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Thurmond has been the state’s superintendent of public schools since 2019, and before that, he served in the State Legislature. He won California’s top education post with the help of powerful teachers’ unions, but his campaign for governor has struggled to gain traction. Mr. Thurmond, who has languished toward the bottom of most polls, is one of the few candidates who has publicly supported the proposed billionaires’ tax that may go before California voters in November.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Antonio Villaraigosa<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Former mayor of Los Angeles</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Antonio Villaraigosa in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/antonio_villaraigosa.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest city, from 2005 to 2013, presiding over a transformation of its public transit system. Before that, he was a labor organizer and served in the State Legislature. He is one of the better-known Democrats in the race and ran for governor against Mr. Newsom in 2018. He lost that race after Mr. Newsom’s campaign helped elevate Mr. Cox, the Republican, to the general election to make it easier for Mr. Newsom to win.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Butch Ware<!-- --></span> <span class="party green svelte-14bu0k9">Green</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Professor</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image green svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Butch Ware in front of a red background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/butch_ware.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Mr. Ware, who teaches African and Islamic history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, ran as the Green Party’s nominee for vice president in the 2024 election, on a ticket with the environmental activist Jill Stein. He announced his campaign for governor about a year ago with a focus on left-leaning priorities, including single-payer health care and reparations for Black Californians. As a third-party candidate with little campaign funding, he is unlikely to advance to the general election.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><div class="candidate svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-header svelte-14bu0k9"><div class="candidate-info svelte-14bu0k9"><p class="g-name"><span class="name svelte-14bu0k9"><!-- -->Betty Yee<!-- --></span> <span class="party dem svelte-14bu0k9">Dem.</span></p> <p class="g-about svelte-14bu0k9"><span class="g-role">Former state controller</span></p></div> <div class="candidate-image dem svelte-14bu0k9"><img alt="A small circular headshot of Betty Yee in front of a blue background." src="https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_images.wHG9a8oVxORasa49Iss8abOOGbxIQaOom1cGdHNNOsg/betty_yee.png"/></div></div> <div class="candidate-text svelte-14bu0k9"><!--[--><!--[!--><!-- --><p class="g-text g-body-text svelte-i37gsg g-text_last"><!--[--><!-- -->Betty Yee, a former state controller, is little known to voters but deeply connected to activists in the California Democratic Party, where she has served as a vice chair. She has campaigned as a fiscal watchdog who can help fix California’s budget problems through her expertise in state taxes and government programs. But her message has struggled to break through, with polls showing little support for her.<!-- --><!--]--><!-- --></p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div></div><!--]--></div><h3 class="svelte-1wvqlhe"></h3> <div class="section-wrapper svelte-1wvqlhe" id="dropped_out"><!--[--><!--]--></div><!--]--></div><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --></div><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!--]--> <!--[!--><!--]--><!--]--> <cript> { __sveltekit_v4hg7 = { base: new URL(".", location).pathname.slice(0, -1) }; const element = document.currentScript.parentElement.dataset.birdkitHydrate ? document.currentScript.parentElement : document.querySelector('[data-birdkit-hydrate="64e906aa8a0385aa"]'); Promise.all([ import("https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_app.Xmg2Dchri3qSXTdshke0BsJIGXeVyN3htmV10L5d2CI/immutable/entry/start.C6Y1EkW4.js"), import("https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/QDSgJylvqzq_Ng/_app.Xmg2Dchri3qSXTdshke0BsJIGXeVyN3htmV10L5d2CI/immutable/entry/app.CNkFuC5f.js") ]).then(([kit, app]) => { kit.start(app, element, { node_ids: [0, 2], data: [null,{"type":"data","data":{body:[{type:"header",value:{sharetools:{show:true,theme:"light-filled",position:"aboveByline"},style:"extrabold",align:"center",textWrap:"balance",customByline:"By Jill Cowan and Laurel Rosenhall",customHeadline:"Who’s Running for\u003Cbr/>Governor of California?",headline:"Who’s Running for Governor of California?",leadin:"",bylines:[{creatorSnapshots:[{bioUrl:"https://www.nytimes.com/by/jill-cowan",displayName:"Jill Cowan",slug:"jill-cowan"},{bioUrl:"https://www.nytimes.com/by/laurel-rosenhall",displayName:"Laurel Rosenhall",slug:"laurel-rosenhall"}],prefix:"By"}],slugs:["by/jill-cowan","by/laurel-rosenhall"],firstPublished:"March 5, 2026",firstPublishedTimestamp:"2026-03-05T03:25:30-05:00",lastModified:"March 5, 2026",lastModifiedTimestamp:"2026-03-05T03:26:09-05:00",updatedText:"",language:"en",translations:[],hideBylineAndTimestamp:void 0,transparentMasthead:false}},{type:"article",value:{asset:"100000010718768",sections:true,slug:"05nat-ca-govcandidates",sourceId:"100000010718768",headline:{default:"Who’s Running for Governor of California?",seo:"California Governor’s Race: Here’s Who’s Running in 2026"},kicker:"",summary:"",credits:void 0,body:[{type:"section",value:{body:[{type:"text",value:"When Gavin Newsom was first elected California’s governor in 2018, he had the backing of a powerful Democratic political machine that made him seem almost anointed. Mr. Newsom beat a handful of lesser-known Democrats in the primary election, then defeated the Trump-endorsed businessman John Cox to win with the largest share of votes ever."},{type:"text",value:"But now, Mr. Newsom’s time as governor is ending — he cannot run again because of term limits — and so is \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/california-governor-democratic-political-machine.html\">the political era\u003C/a> that produced him. Representative Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco titan who supported his rise, is \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/us/politics/nancy-pelosi-house-retire.html\">set to retire at the end of her term next year\u003C/a>."},{type:"text",value:"With no clear successor, the contest to replace Mr. Newsom is wide open. Two nationally known figures, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Alex Padilla, weighed running but did not jump into the race."},{type:"text",value:"That has left a cluster of lesser-known Democrats, two Republicans and a Green candidate to fight for the attention of voters, who have expressed frustration with high housing prices, homelessness and the state’s difficult relationship with the Trump administration."},{type:"text",value:"Under California’s election system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary on June 2 will advance to the November election, regardless of their party affiliation. If the state’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate splits its votes among the many Democratic candidates, there is a small chance that \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/california-governor-democratic-political-machine.html\">two Republicans could advance to the general election.\u003C/a>"},{type:"text",value:"Here is an overview of the principal candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name."},{type:"subhed",value:{value:"Running",className:"g-heading2block",align:"left"}},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Xavier Becerra, Dem.\u003Cbr>Former Biden cabinet secretary",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Becerra was President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s secretary of health and human services. Before that, he led California’s legal battles \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/us/becerra-california-governor-harris.html\">against the Trump administration\u003C/a> as the state’s attorney general during President Trump’s first term, filing dozens of lawsuits over environmental policy, health care and immigration. Mr. Becerra also spent more than two decades representing a Los Angeles district in Congress. His campaign for governor has been flagging, based on polls and fund-raising."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Chad Bianco, Rep.\u003Cbr>Sheriff of Riverside County",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"In 2018, Mr. Bianco, a longtime law enforcement officer, was elected sheriff of Riverside County, a fast-growing rural area east of Los Angeles that has historically been more conservative. His campaign for governor has been endorsed by numerous law enforcement organizations and a prominent gun-rights group. Despite his conservative record, Mr. Bianco has repeatedly been attacked by Laura Loomer, a Trump-aligned influencer, as being insufficiently MAGA."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Steve Hilton, Rep.\u003Cbr>Former Fox News host",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who worked in conservative politics in Britain, moved to Silicon Valley for his wife’s job at Google in 2012. His \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/us/politics/steve-hilton-former-fox-news-host-is-running-for-california-governor.html\">campaign for governor\u003C/a> has received support from Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media magnate, who has donated the maximum amount permitted. Mr. Hilton has focused on traditional Republican messages, calling for reducing taxes and regulations and for enacting tough-on-crime policies."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Matt Mahan, Dem.\u003Cbr>Mayor of San Jose",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Mahan, who is known as a moderate, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/elections/matt-mahan-governor-california.html\">entered the race\u003C/a> in late January and quickly amassed millions of dollars in donations from Silicon Valley executives and other business leaders. Though he is little known statewide, Mr. Mahan could be competitive statewide in this unpredictable race because of their support. Mr. Mahan, a frequent critic of Mr. Newsom, has focused on local issues such as \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/san-jose-homeless-arrest.html\">homelessness\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/us/california-crime-punishment-jail.html\">crime\u003C/a>, steering away from overt attacks on President Trump."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Katie Porter, Dem.\u003Cbr>Professor",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Ms. Porter, a former congresswoman, is teaching at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She had won over voters inside and beyond her purple congressional district in Orange County with a whiteboard and pragmatic progressivism before \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/us/katie-porter-california-senate-primary.html\">leaving her seat to run for Senate\u003C/a>, placing third in the primary in 2024. Ms. Porter was considered a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/katie-porter-california-governor.html\">top contender for governor\u003C/a> until two \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/katie-porter-videos-response.html\">videos of her\u003C/a> losing her temper went viral, leaving opponents an \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/katie-porter-videos-california-governor.html\">opening for attack\u003C/a>."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Tom Steyer, Dem.\u003Cbr>Entrepreneur and environmental activist",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Steyer, a San Francisco \u003Ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-steyer/\">billionaire\u003C/a> who made his fortune running a hedge fund, has been active in politics since leaving the finance world in 2012. He ran a brief \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/us/politics/tom-steyer-drops-out.html\">campaign for president\u003C/a> in 2020 and has bankrolled numerous California ballot measures, including efforts to safeguard the state’s landmark environmental policy and raise taxes on cigarettes to pay for health care. Mr. Steyer has poured $38 million of his own funds into his \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/us/tom-steyer-california-governor-2026.html\">campaign for governor\u003C/a>, raising his standing in the polls with an onslaught of TV ads promoting his progressive positions."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Eric Swalwell, Dem.\u003Cbr>U.S. Representative",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"\u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/us/eric-swalwell-california-governor.html\">Mr. Swalwell\u003C/a>, a former prosecutor who represents a suburban House district in the San Francisco Bay Area, became a frequent guest on cable news after helping to manage the 2021 impeachment of Mr. Trump. While he is relatively inexperienced in state government, he is leaning on his relentless social media criticism of the Trump administration as he runs for governor."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Tony Thurmond, Dem.\u003Cbr>State superintendent of public instruction",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Thurmond has been the state’s superintendent of public schools since 2019, and before that, he served in the State Legislature. He won California’s top education post with the help of powerful teachers’ unions, but his campaign for governor has struggled to gain traction. Mr. Thurmond, who has languished toward the bottom of most polls, is one of the few candidates who has publicly supported the proposed billionaires’ tax that may go before California voters in November."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Antonio Villaraigosa, Dem.\u003Cbr>Former mayor of Los Angeles",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest city, from 2005 to 2013, presiding over a transformation of its public transit system. Before that, he was a labor organizer and served in the State Legislature. He is one of the better-known Democrats in the race and ran for governor against Mr. Newsom in 2018. He lost that race after Mr. Newsom’s campaign helped elevate Mr. Cox, the Republican, to the general election to make it easier for Mr. Newsom to win."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Butch Ware, Green\u003Cbr>Professor",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Ware, who teaches African and Islamic history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, ran as the Green Party’s nominee for vice president in the 2024 election, on a ticket with the environmental activist Jill Stein. He announced his campaign for governor about a year ago with a focus on left-leaning priorities, including single-payer health care and reparations for Black Californians. As a third-party candidate with little campaign funding, he is unlikely to advance to the general election."},{type:"heading3",value:{value:"Betty Yee, Dem.\u003Cbr>Former state controller",className:"g-heading3block",align:"left"}},{type:"text",value:"Betty Yee, a former state controller, is little known to voters but deeply connected to activists in the California Democratic Party, where she has served as a vice chair. She has campaigned as a fiscal watchdog who can help fix California’s budget problems through her expertise in state taxes and government programs. But her message has struggled to break through, with polls showing little support for her."}]}}]}}],theme:"news",sheets:{}},"uses":{"url":1}}], form: null, error: null, params: {}, route: {"id":"/index"} }); }); } </script> </div> <template class="hydration-helper" data-component="sharetools" data-render-hash="h--b031da0"><div class="css-1sm67ns"><div aria-label="Social Media Share buttons, Save button, and Comments Panel with current comment count" class="css-yomkvi" data-testid="share-tools" role="toolbar"><div></div><div class="interactive-sharetools css-n7z2yi" data-testid="share-tools-menu"><ul class="css-16g9egj" data-testid="share-tools-list"><li class="css-1obgmli"><div class="css-vxcmzt"><div class="css-79elbk"><button aria-expanded="false" aria-label="" class="css-1eeh360 actionbar-button" data-testid="gift-article-button" type="button"><span class="css-10d8k1f"><svg aria-hidden="true" height="19" viewbox="0 0 19 19" width="19"><path d="M18.04 5.293h-2.725c.286-.34.493-.74.606-1.17a2.875 2.875 0 0 0-.333-2.322A2.906 2.906 0 0 0 13.64.48a3.31 3.31 0 0 0-2.372.464 3.775 3.775 0 0 0-1.534 2.483l-.141.797-.142-.847A3.745 3.745 0 0 0 7.927.923 3.31 3.31 0 0 0 5.555.459 2.907 2.907 0 0 0 3.607 1.78a2.877 2.877 0 0 0-.333 2.321c.117.429.324.828.606 1.171H1.155a.767.767 0 0 0-.757.757v3.674a.767.767 0 0 0 .757.757h.424v7.53A1.01 1.01 0 0 0 2.588 19h14.13a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 1.01-.959v-7.56h.424a.758.758 0 0 0 .757-.757V6.05a.759.759 0 0 0-.868-.757Zm-7.196-1.625a2.665 2.665 0 0 1 1.01-1.736 2.24 2.24 0 0 1 1.574-.313 1.817 1.817 0 0 1 1.211.818 1.857 1.857 0 0 1 .202 1.453 2.2 2.2 0 0 1-.838 1.191h-3.431l.272-1.413ZM4.576 2.386a1.837 1.837 0 0 1 1.221-.817 2.23 2.23 0 0 1 1.565.313 2.624 2.624 0 0 1 1.01 1.736l.242 1.453H5.182a2.2 2.2 0 0 1-.838-1.19 1.857 1.857 0 0 1 .202-1.495h.03ZM1.548 6.424h7.54V9.39h-7.58l.04-2.967Zm1.181 4.128h6.359v7.287H2.729v-7.287Zm13.777 7.287h-6.348v-7.307h6.348v7.307Zm1.181-8.468h-7.53V6.404h7.53V9.37Z" fill="#121212" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg>Share full article</span></button></div></div></li><li class="css-19yhb3c"><div class="css-vxcmzt"><div class="css-79elbk"><button aria-expanded="false" aria-label="More sharing options ..." class="css-1nurhyi actionbar-button" type="button"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="css-zd9juy" height="18" viewbox="0 0 23 18" width="23"><path d="M1.357 17.192a.663.663 0 0 1-.642-.81c1.82-7.955 6.197-12.068 12.331-11.68V1.127a.779.779 0 0 1 .42-.653.726.726 0 0 1 .78.106l8.195 6.986a.81.81 0 0 1 .253.557.82.82 0 0 1-.263.547l-8.196 6.955a.83.83 0 0 1-.779.105.747.747 0 0 1-.42-.663V11.29c-8.418-.905-10.974 5.177-11.08 5.45a.662.662 0 0 1-.6.453Zm10.048-7.26a16.37 16.37 0 0 1 2.314.158.81.81 0 0 1 .642.726v3.02l6.702-5.682-6.702-5.692v2.883a.767.767 0 0 1-.242.536.747.747 0 0 1-.547.18c-4.808-.537-8.364 1.85-10.448 6.922a11.679 11.679 0 0 1 8.28-3.093v.042Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg></button></div></div></li><li class="css-19yhb3c save-button"><button aria-busy="false" aria-checked="false" aria-label="Save article for reading later..." aria-live="polite" class="css-1yhvmgx actionbar-button" data-testid="save-article-button" disabled="" role="switch" type="button"><svg class="css-eap6fy" height="18" viewbox="0 0 12 18" width="12"><g fill-rule="nonzero"><path class="saved-fill" d="M1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268z"></path><path class="saved-stroke" d="m12 18-5.9-4.756L0 17.98V1.014C0 .745.095.487.265.297.435.107.664 0 .904 0h10.192c.24 0 .47.107.64.297.169.19.264.448.264.717V18ZM1.157 1.268v14.288l4.96-3.813 4.753 3.843V1.268H1.158Z"></path></g></svg></button></li></ul></div></div></div></template></div>