2026 California gubernatorial election

The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom is term limited through the state's constitution and cannot run for reelection to a third term.

Over a dozen candidates have already declared a campaign, with the field of candidates expected to expand.

Candidates
Democratic Party
Declared
Ethan Agarwal, tech entrepreneur 
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–2025) and former attorney general of California (2017–2021)
Carolina Buhler, UCLA student
Ian Calderon, former majority leader of the California Assembly (2016–2020) from the 57th district (2012–2020)
Derek Grasty, San José school district trustee (2024–present)
Zoltan Istvan, founder of the Transhumanist Party, Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018, and Republican candidate for president in 2020
Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose (2023–present)
Thunder Parley, software engineer
Katie Porter, former U.S. representative from  (2019–2025) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
Raji Rab, pilot and perennial candidate
George Slivka, activist
Tom Steyer, founder of Farallon Capital and candidate for president in 2020
Eric Swalwell, U.S. representative from  (2013–present) and candidate for president in 2020
Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2019–present)
Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018
Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023)

Withdrawn
Toni Atkins, former president pro tempore of the California State 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)
Stephen Cloobeck, founder of Diamond Resorts (endorsed Swalwell)
Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California (2019–present) (running for state treasurer)
Fiona Ma, California state treasurer (2019–present) (running for lieutenant governor)
Michael Younger, vice president of Calbright College (2021–present) and former deputy secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (2019–2021)

Declined
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General (2021–present) (running for re-election)
Laphonza Butler, former U.S. senator (2023–2024)
Rick Caruso, founder of Caruso and runner-up for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022 (endorsed Mahan)
Kamala Harris, former vice president of the United States (2021–2025), former U.S. senator (2017–2021), and nominee for president in 2024
Alex Padilla, U.S. senator (2021–present)
Adam Schiff, U.S. senator (2024–present) (endorsed Swalwell)
Buffy Wicks, state assemblymember from the 14th district (2018–present)

Republican Party
Declared
Ché Ahn, pastor
Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner (2019–present)
Sophia Brink, legislative aide to San Mateo County supervisor David Canepa
Steve Hilton, political commentator and former adviser to UK prime minister David Cameron (2010–2012)
Brandon Jones, marketing agency founder
Daniel Mercuri, author, candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022, and candidate for California's 25th congressional district in 2020 
Jimmy Parker, former judge
Jon Slavet, tech entrepreneur
Leo Zacky, vice president of Zacky Farms and candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022

Withdrawn
Kyle Langford, construction manager (running for CA-26 as a Democrat)
David Serpa, real estate business owner and runner-up for California's 39th congressional district in 2024

Declined
Mel Gibson, special ambassador to Hollywood (2025–present), actor, and filmmaker
Richard Grenell, special presidential envoy for special missions (2025–present) and executive director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2025–present)
Kevin McCarthy, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2023) from  (2007–2023)

Green Party
Declared
Butch Ware, associate professor and nominee for vice president in 2024

Libertarian Party
Declared
Nicholas Thompson, college student
Declined
 Art Olivier, former mayor of Bellflower

Peace and Freedom Party
Declared
Ramsey Robinson, school social worker

No party preference
Declared
Javen Allen, actor
Leonard Jackson, shipping company CEO
Ryan Tillman, police officer
David Thelen, blogger

Declined
Nicole Shanahan, attorney and running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the 2024 presidential election

Primary election
Endorsements

Polling
Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated ChadBianco (R) SteveHilton (R) EricSwawell (D) KatiePorter (D) TomSteyer (D) XavierBecerra (D) Other/UndecidedMargin270toWinthrough December 19, 2025February 18, 202613.3%14.7%14.5%15.0%5.0%7.0%30.5%Porter +0.3%Race to the WHthrough February 12, 2026February 18, 202615.9%15.4%13.3%11.3%8.4%5.2%30.5%Bianco +1.5%RealClearPoliticsSeptember 18, 2025 – January 20, 2026February 8, 202615.5%15.5%12.5%10.5%8.5%4.5%33.0%TiedAverage14.9%15.2%13.4%12.3%7.3%5.6%31.3%Hilton +0.3%

 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error XavierBecerra(D) ChadBianco(R) SteveHilton(R) MattMahan(D) KatiePorter(D) TomSteyer(D) EricSwalwell(D) TonyThurmond(D) Antonio(D) BettyYee(D) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeFebruary 13–14, 20261,000 (LV)± 3.0%4%14%17%3%10%9%14%2%3%2%2%21%Tavern Research (D)February 2–5, 20261,097 (LV)± 3.3%6%20%12%2%9%9%10%–3%–4%25%EMC Research (D)January 29 – February 4, 20261,400 (V)–6%21%17%5%12%9%18%1%3%2%2%4%RBI Strategies & Research (D)January 25–29, 2026– (LV)–4%15%16%3%13%8%14%2%3%––23%Public Policy Polling (D)January 20–21, 20261,001 (V)–6%18%17%5%14%8%12%1%2%––17%David Binder Research (D)January 17–20, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%5%17%14%–11%8%11%2%3%1%3%25%CivicLens ResearchDecember 14–16, 2025400 (LV)± 4.5%1%14%18%–9%7%12%3%2%2%3%31%FM3 Research (D)November 30 – December 7, 2025632 (LV)± 4.0%3%17%18%–13%6%17%1%3%1%–20%Emerson CollegeDecember 1–2, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.0%4%13%12%–11%4%12%2%5%2%5%31%Lake Research Partners (D)November 17–20, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%6%10%17%–15%4%10%3%7%3%1%22%PPICNovember 13–19, 20251,086 (LV)± 3.9%14%10%14%–21%––2%8%7%19%5%Tavern Research (D)October 27–30, 20251,001 (LV)± 4.0%9%16%12%–15%––2%5%3%9%29%EMC Research (D)October 22–26, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%9%14%20%–16%3%11%3%5%3%16%Emerson CollegeOctober 20–21, 2025900 (LV)± 3.19%5%11%16%–15%––3%5%2%4%39%Bold DecisionOctober 16–21, 2025509 (LV)± 4.3%8%14%13%–12%7%–1%7%4%4%29%Emerson CollegeApril 12–14, 2025899 (LV)± 3.2%3%4%––12%––2%5%3%17%54%

with Rick Caruso
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error XavierBecerra(D) ChadBianco(R) RickCaruso(D) SteveHilton(R) KatiePorter(D) AntonioVillaraigosa(D) BettyYee(D) Other UndecidedBerkeley IGSOctober 20–27, 20258141 (RV)± 2.0%8%13%3%8%11%5%3%5%44%Emerson CollegeSeptember 15–16, 20251000 (RV)± 3%5%8%4%10%16%4%3%10%38%Berkeley IGSAugust 11–17, 20254950 (RV)± 1.5%9%10%4%6%17%4%2%9%38%True Dot/PoliticoJuly 28–August 12, 2025875 (RV)± 2.6%9%15%6%10%21%9%6%15%9%Emerson CollegeAugust 4–5, 20251000 (RV)± 3%3%7%4%12%18%5%2%13%38%

with Alex Padilla
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error XavierBecerra(D) ChadBianco(R) RickCaruso(D) SteveHilton(R) AlexPadilla(D) KatiePorter(D) AntonioVillaraigosa(D) BettyYee(D) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeSeptember 15–16, 20251000 (RV)± 3%3%8%4%10%7%16%4%2%9%36%

with Kamala Harris
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error XavierBecerra(D) ChadBianco(R) KamalaHarris(D) EleniKounalakis(D) KyleLangford(R) KatiePorter(D) AntonioVillaraigosa(D) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeApril 12–14, 2025911 (LV)± 3.2%2%4%31%2%2%8%2%10%39%

with John Cox, Lanhee Chen and Rob Bonta
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ToniAtkins(D) XavierBecerra(D) RobBonta(D) LanheeChen(R) JohnCox(R) KamalaHarris(D) EleniKounalakis(D) KatiePorter(D) TonyThurmond(D) AntonioVillaraigosa(D) BettyYee(D) OtherCapitol WeeklyFebruary 3–7, 2025692 (RV)–2%4%7%10%21%23%2%16%1%2%2%10%10733%5%9%9%21%–5%26%2%3%3%12%

with Brian Dahle
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ToniAtkins (D) XavierBecerra (D) ChadBianco (R) BrianDahle (R) SteveHilton (R) EleniKounalakis (D) KatiePorter (D) TonyThurmond (D) AntonioVillaraigosa (D) BettyYee (D) Other UndecidedUSC/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaSeptember 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%1%3%5%5%4%2%14%1%3%3%9%50%Tulchin Research (D)August 8–12, 2024800 (LV)± 3.5%–––13%10%10%4%4%13%7%–39%

with Steve Garvey
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ToniAtkins (D) XavierBecerra (D) ChadBianco (R) SteveGarvey (R) EleniKounalakis (D) KatiePorter (D) TonyThurmond (D) AntonioVillaraigosa (D) BettyYee (D) Other UndecidedBreakthrough CampaignsNovember 22–26, 20241,228 (LV)± 2.8%1%2%6%18%8%21%3%3%3%23%12%3%6%14%21%9%24%2%3%6%1%11%

"Democratic Primary Poll"
 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ToniAtkins(D) StephenCloobeck(D) KamalaHarris(D) EleniKounalakis(D) KatiePorter(D) TonyThurmond(D) AntonioVillaraigosa(D) BettyYee(D) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeFebruary 10–11, 2025469 (RV)± 4.5%3%1%57%4%9%1%4%2%3%17%3%3%–5%21%3%9%3%9%45%

 Debates 
+ 2026 California gubernatorial primary debate  Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticRepublicanRepublicanKey:  Participant   Invited  Withdrawn  Absent   Not invited  Becerra Mahan Steyer Thurmond Villaraigosa Yee Swalwell Porter Atkins Kounalakis Hilton Bianco 1 Sep. 29,2024 NUHWLos Angeles TimesAP, Politico Laurel RosenhallLisa MatthewsMelanie Mason YouTube A A A  A  AA   A A 2 Feb. 3,2026 Black Action AllianceKTVU FOX 2KTTV FOX 11 Greg LeeAndre SeniorMarla Tellez Youtube         W W  

 General election 

Notes

Sources

Other websites
Official campaign websites

Ethan Agarwal (D) for Governor
Ché Ahn (R) for Governor
Xavier Becerra (D) for Governor
Chad Bianco (R) for Governor
Sophia Brink (R) for Governor
Carolina Buhler (D) for Governor
Ian Calderon (D) for Governor
Derek Grasty for Governor
Sharifah Hardie (R) for Governor
Steve Hilton (R) for Governor
Zoltan Istvan (D) for Governor
Brandon Jones (R) for Governor
Kyle Langford (R) for Governor
Matt Mahan (D) for Governor
Daniel Mercuri (R) for Governor
Ethan Penner (I) for Governor
Thunder Parley (D) for Governor
Katie Porter (D) for Governor
Raji Rab (D) for Governor
Ramsey Robinson (PSL) for Governor
David Serpa (R) for Governor
Tom Steyer (D) for Governor
Eric Swalwell (D) for Governor
Nicholas Thompson (L) for Governor
Tony Thurmond (D) for Governor
Ryan Tillman (I) 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

Category:2026 elections in the United States
Category:California elections
Category:2026 in California
Category:Gubernatorial elections in the United States