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#### Withdrawn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)*
*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
*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

### 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

## Primary election
### Endorsements
### Polling

**with Rick Caruso**

**with Alex Padilla**

**with Kamala Harris**

**with John Cox, Lanhee Chen and Rob Bonta**

**with Brian Dahle**

**with Steve Garvey**

**"Democratic Primary Poll"**

### Debates 
## 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