With Vice President Kamala Harris officially ruling out a bid for California governor, the 2026 race is wide open—and shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
Current Governor Gavin Newsom, who has served two terms since 2019, will be leaving office in early 2027 due to term limits. With no clear frontrunner, a diverse and crowded field of candidates from both major parties—and even third parties—is already taking shape.
Who’s Running for California Governor in 2026?
Democratic Candidates
Katie Porter
The former Congresswoman from Orange County served in the House from 2019 to 2025 before leaving to run unsuccessfully for Senate. A UC Irvine law professor, Porter gained national attention for her consumer advocacy and viral committee hearings.
Eleni Kounalakis
Currently serving her second term as Lieutenant Governor under Newsom, Kounalakis also brings foreign policy experience as the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary during the Obama administration.
Antonio Villaraigosa
The former Los Angeles mayor (2005–2013) is making another run for governor after falling short in 2018. Villaraigosa has long been active in Democratic national politics, serving as co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign and chair of the 2012 DNC.
Xavier Becerra
A former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden, Becerra previously served as California Attorney General and spent over two decades in Congress.
Toni Atkins
A veteran of California state politics, Atkins was the first woman and LGBTQ+ person to serve as President pro Tempore of the State Senate (2018–2024) and previously served as Speaker of the Assembly.
Betty Yee
California’s State Controller from 2015 to 2023, Yee also served on the State Board of Equalization for more than a decade. She’s long been considered a steady figure in state fiscal policy.
Stephen Cloobeck
A businessman and founder of Diamond Resorts, Cloobeck is best known for his philanthropy, political donations to Democratic causes, and a television appearance on Undercover Boss.
Tony Thurmond
Currently serving as California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thurmond previously represented the East Bay in the State Assembly from 2014 to 2018.
Republican Candidates
Chad Bianco
Riverside County’s Sheriff since 2019, Bianco has emerged as a vocal conservative figure on public safety and immigration policy in Southern California.
Steve Hilton
A former Fox News host and longtime Trump ally, Hilton became a U.S. citizen in 2021 after emigrating from the U.K. He has signaled interest in bringing a populist, media-savvy approach to state leadership.
Green Party
Butch Ware
A hip-hop artist, historian, and UC Santa Cruz professor, Ware was the Green Party’s 2024 vice-presidential nominee. He blends progressive academic and cultural advocacy in his platform.
As California heads into what could be a generational political shift, voters will face a broad spectrum of choices—ranging from political veterans and career public servants to media personalities and academics. The race officially begins in early 2026, but the battle for visibility and campaign momentum is already underway.
