The major candidates running for California governor in the 2026 election include:
- Katie Porter: Former congresswoman from Orange County and law professor, currently leading the Democratic field in polls.
- Antonio Villaraigosa: Former Los Angeles Mayor and past gubernatorial candidate.
- Xavier Becerra: Former Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden.
- Ian Calderon: Former Assemblymember and a relatively new entrant to the race.
- Stephen J. Cloobeck: Businessman and timeshare company founder.
- Tony Thurmond: Secretary of Public Instruction for California.
- Betty Yee: Former State Controller.
- Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton: Republican candidates.
- Butch Ware: Green Party candidate.
Notably, former Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will not run this cycle, leaving the field open without a clear frontrunner. It is a crowded race with Democrats and some Republicans vying for the open seat as term- limited Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run for a third term. Katie Porter currently leads in Democratic support and fundraising, but recent polling shows Republican Steve Hilton as a competitive contender. The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with the top two finishers advancing to the November 3, 2026 general election.
