2026 California gubernatorial election
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The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California.[1] Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom is term limited through the state's constitution and cannot run for reelection to a third term.[2]
Over a dozen candidates have already declared a campaign, with the field of candidates expected to expand.
Candidates
[change | change source]Democratic Party
[change | change source]Declared
[change | change source]- Toni Atkins, former President pro tempore of the California Senate (2018–2024) from the 39th district (2016–2024) and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2012–2016) from the 78th district (2010–2016)[3]
- Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–2025) and former Attorney General of California (2017–2021)[4]
- Carolina Buhler, college student[5]
- Stephen Cloobeck, founder of Diamond Resorts[6]
- Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California (2019–present)[7] (will withdraw if Harris runs)[8]
- Katie Porter, former U.S. representative from California's 47th congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[9]
- Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2019–present)[10]
- Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018[11]
- Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023)[12]
Publicly expressed interest
[change | change source]- Rick Caruso, CEO of Caruso and runner-up for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022[13]
Potential
[change | change source]- Kamala Harris, former vice president of the United States (2021–2025), former U.S. senator (2017–2021), and nominee for president in 2024 (decision expected by the end of summer 2025)[14][15]
Withdrew
[change | change source]- Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present) (running for lieutenant governor)[12]
- Michael Younger, vice president of Calbright College (2022–present) and former deputy secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency[16]
Declined
[change | change source]- Rob Bonta, California Attorney General (2021–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Harris)[17]
- Laphonza Butler, former U.S. senator (2023–2024)[18]
Republican Party
[change | change source]Declared
[change | change source]- Ché Ahn, Pentecostal pastor[19]
- Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner (2019–present)[20]
- Sharifah Hardie, business consultant[21]
- Steve Hilton, political commentator and former adviser to UK prime minister David Cameron (2010–2012)[22]
- Brandon Jones, marketing agency founder[23]
- Kyle Langford, construction manager[24]
- Daniel Mercuri, author, candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022, and candidate for California's 25th congressional district in 2020[25]
- Jimmy Parker, former judge[26]
- Leo Zacky, vice president of Zacky Farms and candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022[26]
Publicly expressed interest
[change | change source]- Grant Cardone, private equity fund manager[27]
- Richard Grenell, Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions (2025–present) and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany (2018–2020) (if Harris runs)[28]
- Jake Steinfeld, actor and fitness personality[29]
Declined
[change | change source]- Mel Gibson, actor and filmmaker[30]
- Kevin McCarthy, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2023) from California's 20th congressional district (2007–2023)[31]
Green Party
[change | change source]Declared
[change | change source]- Butch Ware, associate professor and nominee for vice-president in 2024[32]
No party preference
[change | change source]Publicly expressed interest
[change | change source]- Ethan Penner, real estate investor (decision expected by June 2025)[33]
Declined
[change | change source]- Nicole Shanahan, attorney and running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the 2024 presidential election[34]
Primary election
[change | change source]Endorsements
[change | change source]| Toni Atkins (D) |
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| Chad Bianco (R) |
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| Steve Hilton (R) |
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| Eleni Kounalakis (D) |
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| Katie Porter (D) |
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| Tony Thurmond (D) |
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| Antonio Villaraigosa (D) |
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| Kamala Harris (D) (undeclared) |
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|
Polling
[change | change source]Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Xavier Becerra (D) | Chad Bianco (R) |
Rick Caruso (D) |
John Cox (R) |
Brian Dahle (R) |
Steve Garvey (R) |
Kamala Harris (D) |
Eleni Kounalakis (D) |
Katie Porter (D) |
Antonio Villaraigosa (D) |
Betty Yee (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College[57] | April 12–14, 2025 | 911 (LV) | ± 3.2 | 2% | 4% | – | – | – | – | 31% | 2% | 8% | 2% | 1% | 11%[b] | 39% |
| 899 | 3% | 4% | – | – | – | – | – | 3% | 12% | 5% | 3% | 16%[c] | 54% | |||
| Emerson College[58][A][d] | February 10–11, 2025 | 469 (RV) | ± 4.5% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 57% | 4% | 9% | 4% | 2% | 7%[e] | 17% |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5% | 21% | 9% | 3% | 17%[f] | 45% | ||||
| Capitol Weekly[59] | February 3–7, 2025 | 692 (RV) | – | 4% | – | 8% | 21% | – | – | 23% | 2% | 16% | 2% | 2% | 22%[g] | – |
| 1073[h] | 5% | – | 8% | 21% | – | – | – | 5% | 26% | 3% | 3% | 27%[i] | – | |||
| Breakthrough Campaigns[60] | November 22–26, 2024 | 1,228 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 2% | 6% | 5% | – | 9% | 18% | – | 8% | 21% | 3% | 3% | 13%[j] | 12% |
| 6% | 14% | – | – | – | 21% | – | 9% | 24% | 3% | 6% | 6%[k] | 11% | ||||
| USC/CSU Long Beach/ Cal Poly Pomona[61] |
September 12–25, 2024 | 1,685 (LV) | ± 2.4% | 3% | 5% | 3% | – | 5% | – | – | 2% | 14% | 3% | 3% | 12%[l] | 50% |
| Tulchin Research (D)[62][B] | August 8–12, 2024 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | – | – | – | – | 13% | – | – | 10% | – | 13% | 7% | 18%[m] | 39% |
Debates
[change | change source]| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||||
| Atkins | Kounalakis | Thurmond | Yee | |||||
| 1 | Sep. 29, 2024 | National Union of Healthcare Workers Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, Politico |
Laurel Rosenhall Lisa Matthews Melanie Mason |
YouTube | P | P | P | P |
General election
[change | change source]Notes
[change | change source]- ↑ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ↑ "Someone else" with 3%; Kyle Langford (R) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) and Jimmy Parker (R) with 1%
- ↑ "Someone else" with 5%; Toni Atkins (D), Kyle Langford (R) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D), Jimmy Parker (R) and Brandon Jones (R) with 1%
- ↑ Survey asked only Democratic voters. In California, all candidates run on the same ballot in a “blanket primary.”
- ↑ Toni Atkins (D) and "Someone else" with 3%; Stephen Cloobeck (D), Tony Thurmond (D) and Michael Younger (D) with under 1%
- ↑ "Someone else" with 8%; Toni Atkins (D), Stephen Cloobeck (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 3%; and Michael Younger (D) with under 1%
- ↑ Lanhee Chen (R) with 10%; Rob Bonta (D) with 7%; Toni Atkins (D) and Laphonza Butler (D) with 2%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 1%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
- ↑ Total says 1073, but numbers add up to 1071
- ↑ Rob Bonta (D) and Lanhee Chen (R) with 9%; Laphonza Butler (D) with 4%; Toni Atkins (D) with 3%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
- ↑ Rob Bonta (D) with 6%; Laphonza Butler (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 3%; Toni Atkins (D) with 1%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
- ↑ Toni Atkins (D) with 3%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 1%
- ↑ Rob Bonta (D) and Steve Hilton (R) with 4%; Lanhee Chen (R) with 2%; Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 1%
- ↑ Steve Hilton (R) with 10%; Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 4%
Sources
[change | change source]- ↑ "2026 United States gubernatorial elections", Wikipedia, 2023-01-21, retrieved 2023-01-27
- ↑ "Article V, California Constitution". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mason, Melanie (January 19, 2024). "California Senate leader aims to be the state's first woman and LGBTQ+ governor". Politico. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ↑ Mason, Melanie (April 2, 2025). "Xavier Becerra announces bid for California governor". Politico. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ↑ Crosnoe, Alexandra (June 30, 2025). "UCLA student Carolina Buhler to compete in 2026 California gubernatorial primary". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (November 5, 2024). "Hospitality businessman Stephen Cloobeck launches California governor bid". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ↑ Cadelago, Christopher (April 24, 2023). "Eleni Kounalakis first to launch campaign for California governor in 2026". Politico. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ↑ Daniels, Eugene; Cadelago, Christopher (March 7, 2025). "Kamala Harris sets a deadline for her next move". Politico. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ↑ Rosenhall, Laurel (11 March 2025). "Katie Porter Will Run for California Governor". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ Flores, Hilda (September 26, 2023). "State Superintendent Tony Thurmond officially announces run for governor". KCRA. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ↑ Gans, Jared (July 23, 2024). "Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa again running for California governor". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bollag, Sophia (April 24, 2023). "Former California Controller Betty Yee says she will run to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (February 17, 2025). "Morning Digest: A Georgia Republican says he alone can raise unlimited sums. His rivals have other ideas". The Downballot. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
Developer Rick Caruso...now tells Puck's Peter Hamby he's considering a campaign for California's open governorship.
- ↑ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (2025-05-18). "Inside Kamala Harris' deliberations over her political future". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ Parnes, Amie (2025-06-22). "Harris gives California governor's race a serious look". The Hill. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 5, 2025). "Rob Bonta is keeping his day job". Politico. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
Attorney General Rob Bonta won't run for California governor in 2026, he told Playbook...instead, he'll seek reelection as AG and back former Vice President Kamala Harris if she jumps into the fray to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- ↑ Mehta, Seema (November 17, 2024). "Laphonza Butler reflects on her brief Senate career, the presidential race and her future". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ↑ "Dominionist Ché Ahn Running for Governor of California".
- ↑ Horseman, Jeff (February 17, 2025). "Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announces California governor run in 2026". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ↑ Symon, Evan (November 19, 2024). "Where the Ultra-Competitive 2026 California Gubernatorial Race Currently Stands". California Globe. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Blake (April 21, 2025). "Former Fox News host Steve Hilton is running for California governor". Politico. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- ↑ Baños, Alejandro (March 12, 2025). "Katie Porter officially announces her candidacy for California governor". VOZ.
- ↑ Semyon, Cassie (April 2, 2025). "Becerra joins crowded field in bid to be California's next governor". NY1. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ Sparks, Jennifer (2025-03-19). "Politics and The Pulpit –Daniel Mercuri- March 19, 2025". KHTS. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Medina, Alex (July 23, 2024). "Antonio Villaraigosa announces another run for California governor". Boyle Heights Beat. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ↑ My encouragement to the middle class is to 'get out' of it, move yourself up: Grant Cardone. Fox Business. May 24, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
Grant Cardone dissects the state of the country and whether a 2026 California gubernatorial run could happen
- ↑ Vakil, Caroline (February 14, 2025). "Grenell would consider run for California governor if Harris enters race". The Hill. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
- ↑ Colombo, Madison (March 28, 2025). "Fitness mogul Jake Steinfeld seriously considers run for California governor after losing home to wildfires". Fox News. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Mel Gibson 'Flattered' by Governor Poll Favorability, but Has Zero Interest". TMZ. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ↑ Solender, Andrew (13 February 2024). "McCarthy floats future run for office in rare Capitol Hill visit". Axios. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
McCarthy dismissed a run for California governor in 2026
- ↑ "Butch Ware, former Green Party VP nominee, announces next run for office". Green Party of the United States (Press release). November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ↑ Gittelsohn, John (April 7, 2025). "CMBS Pioneer Ethan Penner Considers Run for California Governor". Bloomberg News. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ↑ BREAKING: Nicole Shanahan Will NOT Run For Governor Of California. The Steve Hilton Show. March 21, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Larreal, Samuel; Alfred, Mark (March 11, 2025). "Silicon Valley lawmakers aren't racing to back latest governor candidate". San José Spotlight. NOTUS). Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 Tefu, Bo (August 6, 2024). "Asm. Akilah Weber Endorses Sen. Toni Atkins for Governor". Post News Group. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 Bajko, Matthew S. (June 17, 2024). "LPAC early endorses lesbian 2026 CA governor candidate Atkins". Bay Area Reporter. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ↑ "IBEW 569 Endorses Toni Atkins for Governor!". IBEW 569. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Horseman, Jeff (February 17, 2025). "Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announces California governor run in 2026". Los Angeles Daily News. SCNG. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 Williams, Sam (May 28, 2025). "Bianco brings his gubernatorial campaign to Jensen Hall at 5 p.m. June 6". Lassen County Times. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ Albani-Burgio, Paul (February 17, 2025). "Sheriff Chad Bianco kicks off campaign for California governor with attacks on Democrats". The Desert Sun. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Gligich, Daniel (June 6, 2024). "Coalition urges Riverside Sheriff Bianco to run for governor". San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Horseman, Jeff (July 9, 2024). "Can Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco become California's governor in 2026?". Los Angeles Daily News. SCNG. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 44.7 "Coalition Organizes to Draft Riverside Sheriff for Governor". California County News. June 19, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ Norman, Nicole (February 17, 2025). "MAGA sheriff running for CA governor vows to end 'sanctuary' laws". Politico. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ Horseman, Jeff (February 18, 2025). "Conservative Southern California sheriff announces governor run in 2026". The Mercury News. BANG. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Norman, Nicole (April 23, 2025). "This primary ain't big enough for the two of us". Politico. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ↑ "Congressman Tom McClintock Endorses Steve Hilton for Governor of California". Sierra Sun Times. May 12, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ↑ Nixon, Nicole (June 19, 2025). "YOLO DA ENDORSES REPUBLICAN STEVE HILTON". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ↑ Mizell, Preston (April 21, 2025). "Media personality Steve Hilton enters California gubernatorial race". Fox News. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
The media personality was quickly endorsed by former presidential candidate and current Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 Rosenhall, Lauren (May 25, 2023). "Hillary Clinton backs Eleni Kounalakis for California governor". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ↑ White, Jeremy B.; Korte, Lara; Brown, Matthew; Castanos, Ramon (May 25, 2023). "Kounalakis, Clinton and California clout". Politico. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ↑ Koehn, Josh (2023-04-24). "Eleni Kounalakis Running for California Governor. Will Kamala Harris Join Her?". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ↑ "Vote Mama PAC | Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ↑ McLaughlin, Jill (April 21, 2025). "More Candidates Emerge as California Governor's Race Gains Steam". California Insider. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
Thurmond has been endorsed by several former and current state lawmakers and U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman.
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Mehta, Seema (April 10, 2025). "Democrats running for California governor take digs at Kamala Harris' delayed decision on the race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ↑ Mumford, Camille (April 17, 2025). "April 2025 California Poll: Harris Leads Hypothetical Gubernatorial Primary, 50% of Voters Think She Should Not Run". Emerson College Polling.
- ↑ "February 2025 California Poll: Kamala Harris Emerges as Democratic Frontrunner for Governor". Emerson College Polling. February 13, 2025.
- ↑ Paul, Mitchell (February 12, 2025). "CA 120: Dems in a funk, but Harris and Newsom could still shine". Capitol Weekly.
- ↑ Vermeyen, Lindsay (December 9, 2024). "State of the California Governor Race". Politico.
- ↑ "The California Elections and Policy Poll (CEPP): Statewide Poll of the California Electorate, poll conducted September 12–25, 2024" (PDF). University of Southern California. September 30, 2024.
- ↑ Korte, Lara; Gardiner, Dustin (August 29, 2024). "Assembly pushes back on Newsom". Politico.
Other websites
[change | change source]Official campaign websites
- Toni Atkins (D) for Governor
- Chad Bianco (R) for Governor
- Stephen Cloobeck (D) for Governor
- Sharifah Hardie (R) for Governor
- Eleni Kounalakis (D) for Governor
- Katie Porter (D) for Governor
- Tony Thurmond (D) for Governor
- Antionio Villaraigosa (D) for Governor
- Butch Ware (G) for Governor
- Betty Yee (D) for Governor
- Michael Younger (D) for Governor
- Leo Zacky (R) for Governor