California voters are lucky. In 2026, when they choose their next governor, they will do so under a system that ensures no spoilers, no wasted votes, and a guaranteed majority winner. Thanks to the state’s nonpartisan top two primary, every candidate appears on the same ballot, and the top two finishers advance to November. No matter how crowded the field, Californians always end up with a winner who has earned a majority of the votes.

The Democrats: A Crowded and Divided Field

The Democratic bench is deep and diverse, reflecting the state’s sprawling constituencies and ideological divides.

Katie Porter, 51, the former U.S. Representative known for her “whiteboard” advocacy, was one of the first to announce her candidacy about five months ago, declaring that “what California needs is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit.” She is leaning on her progressive record, emphasizing housing affordability, reproductive rights, and accountability in government. During a Chamber of Commerce dinner in June, however, “she threw cold water on raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour in the next election.”  “We keep trying to give people more in wages rather than bringing down some of the core costs,” she said. According to POLITICO, “one criticism of Porter has been that she’s allegedly a terrible — according to some accounts, abusive and racist — boss.” Porter raised about $3 million from March through June, and then saw another $250,000 pour in within 36 hours of Kamala Harris confirming she would not run for governor. Porter leads the pack in the latest POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey. 

Antonio Villaraigosa, 72, former Mayor of Los Angeles and former leader of the California Assembly, is trying again after a failed 2018 run, pitching himself as a “proven problem solver,” and described by observers as “squarely in the moderate lane.”  At a recent labor gathering, Villaraigosa was the only candidate to raise objections when asked if he would support providing state unemployment benefits to striking workers. Former US Senator Barbara Boxer will co-chair his campaign, and his website includes several pictures of him alongside former President Barack Obama. He’s raised $4.2 million, with $176,000 from donors with ties to the oil industry, surprising environmental advocates who previously saw him as an ally. Recent polling puts Villaraigosa at 9 percent, in fifth place.

Xavier Becerra, 67, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, California Attorney General, and Congressman, is banking on his working-class roots and 35 years of governing experience, campaigning on a promise to “rebuild the California Dream.” He supports single-payer, universal health care. Members of both parties criticized Becerra for his lack of leadership during the pandemic when he was derisively called the “invisible” secretary. He is polling at 9 percent. 

Toni Atkins, 63, former President Pro Tempore of the California Senate and Assembly Speaker, brings legislative heft to the contest. She was the first female Senate president pro tem and the first openly LGBTQ person to sign bills into California law. Atkins is the daughter of a coal miner and a seamstress who grew up in a house with no running water. CalMatters recently reported that Atkins’s spouse’s work could create a potential conflict of interest if she is elected governor. The Los Angeles Times revealed that the clientele at her spouse’s firms nearly quadrupled between 2018 and 2023. She has $4.2 million in cash on hand and has earned key labor endorsements from the Western States Regional Carpenters Union and IBEW 569. She is polling at 4%.

Stephen Cloobeck, 63, businessman and founder of Diamond Resorts International, a timeshare company, is positioning himself as a problem-solving outsider. He’s trademarked several clever slogans, including “California Get a Cloo,” and “Making California Affordable, Livable, and Workable.”  He has a podcast and a new book, Facing Hard Truths. Cloobeck appeared on the CBS show “Undercover Boss” multiple times. He told the Sacramento Bee that he decided to run for governor after he met with several declared candidates for the post and realized “they don’t have solutions. They talk in word salad.” Cloobeck, who lives in Beverly Hills, has already spent millions on consultants and private air travel, pledging recently to put another $10 million into his campaign. He went on the air in August with a $1.4 million television ad buy. He is polling at 2%.

Betty Yee, 67, former State Budget Director and State Controller, has launched her campaign with a focus on fiscal responsibility. Yee grew up in San Francisco, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her childhood was spent in a cramped apartment tucked behind the family’s dry cleaning shop, where she shared a sofa bed with four sisters. As Controller, Yee was lauded for uncovering $7.3 billion in mismanaged spending by state and local governments. However, she’s been criticized for failing to file the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the state government on time. In 2022, the Los Angeles Times reported that Yee privately advised a well-connected firm pursuing a $600 million no-bid contract for COVID-19 masks. She has $637,000 cash on hand. She is polling at 6%.

Tony Thurmond, 57, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2019, is highlighting his public education record, where he has overseen initiatives such as expanding preschool access for four-year-olds, implementing a universal school meals program, and increasing the number of counselors in public schools. His cousin raised Thurmond after his mother died when he was just 6 years old. Thurmond paid his own way through college, including working for $3.35/an hour at McDonald’s. He supports raising the minimum wage and teacher pay. CalMatters reported that Thurmond’s financial disclosures show that while he’s been Superintendent, he has regularly taken side jobs moonlighting at Bay Area nonprofits, earning tens of thousands of dollars to supplement his $200,000 annual income. Thurmond has proposed nine statewide televised debates. He’s polling at 2%.

Carolina Buhler, 40, a UCLA student, told the Daily Bruin that she opposes the current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids – which she called “kidnappings” – taking place across the country. Buhler said she wants to focus on ending homelessness and making rent cheaper. She has a vision that includes tiny home villages.

Ethan Agarwal, 40, the newest entrant, is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has support from tech heavyweights like Y Combinator’s Garry Tan and DoorDash cofounder Stanley Tang. Axios reported that Agarwal founded and sold two startups that raised over $100 million from VC firms, including Andreessen Horowitz. Agarwal brands himself as a Democrat “who believes in capitalism,” arguing California must cut red tape, accelerate housing development, and embrace innovation to stay competitive. His X profile says he is “working to restore California’s rightful place as the best place to live in the world,” and in a campaign ad, the narrator warns Californians that "we're all f****d" if the state doesn't make some major changes.”

Rick Caruso, 66, the businessman and philanthropist who ran for Los Angeles mayor in 2022, is said to be weighing a run. His brand as a common-sense, centrist outsider could shake up a field dominated by party regulars. Caruso is the chair of the board of trustees at the University of Southern California. He founded and leads Steadfast LA, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding Los Angeles after the devastating January 2025 fires. If Caruso enters the race, his personal wealth and broad crossover appeal could position him as a serious contender.

The Republicans: Searching for a Breakthrough

California Republicans face long odds in a state that has not elected a GOP governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. Still, the field is notable, and two recent polls show the Republicans are competitive.

Chad Bianco, 57, Riverside County Sheriff, is running on law and order themes to protect Californians. First elected in 2018, Bianco advocated for Proposition 36, which passed with overwhelming numbers in all California counties and allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain theft and drug crimes. During the COVID lockdowns, Bianco opposed using law enforcement to enforce mask mandates and curfews, a stance that won him praise from civil libertarians. He’s a strong supporter of President Donald J. Trump, appearing with him at campaign rallies. Bianco has been linked to the Oath Keepers, an anti-government extremist organization within the militia movement, that garnered national attention for their significant participation in the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.  A new report from San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice calls Bianco “the sheriff with California’s worst crime-solving record.” The report says Bianco’s department solved only 9.2% of violent and property crimes between 2019 and 2024. Bianco has raised $1.64 million from more than 8,100 donors. He ranks second in the latest POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey, with 15% of the vote.

Steve Hilton, 56, former Fox News host and onetime adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is pursuing a populist, anti-establishment message. His parents fled communism in Hungary to start a new life in England, and Hilton moved to California in 2012. He became a US citizen in 2021. He’s the author of three books: More Human in 2015, Positive Populism in 2018, and Califailure in 2025. Hilton says he’ll take on public sector unions, the “Democrat industrial complex,” and put an end to one-party rule.  He has pledged to eliminate state taxes for individuals with incomes under $100,000, reduce state spending, and streamline regulations for businesses. Hilton’s enthusiasm and support for President Trump could be a liability in California, where polls show Trump’s disapproval rating is more than twice his approval. Hilton raised $1.8 million from more than 5,000 individuals during his first 100 days on the campaign trail and is ranked second in a recent Emerson College poll of all the candidates, garnering 12%.

Ché Ahn, Kyle Langford, and David Serpa are also in the mix, though with limited name recognition at this stage.

Third Parties and Independents

Butch Ware, 50, the Green Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee, is a Green Party candidate for governor. He’s a history professor at UC Santa Barbara with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. He’s also a hip hop artist. Ware’s campaign website cites his work “organizing teach-ins, developing educational initiatives & leading movements challenging imperialism, militarism & ethnic cleansing.” His campaign principles are housing first, healthcare is a human right, and homelessness is not a crime.

Zoltan Istvan, 52, the futurist and Transhumanist Party founder, is also testing the waters. He says he is running for governor because he is “deeply afraid that AI is gonna sneak up on human civilization and destroy the fabric of society.” Istvan has called for a Universal Basic Income and a robot for every family.

Who’s Out

Two of the most well-known Californians are not running.

Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, ended months of speculation by saying she would not enter the race.

Eleni Kounalakis, California’s Lieutenant Governor, withdrew her campaign in August and pivoted to a run for State Treasurer.

Polls Show No Clear Frontrunner

Early polling paints a fractured picture. 

An August Emerson College survey found Katie Porter leading Democrats with 18 percent, while Republican Steve Hilton drew 12 percent, Sheriff Bianco 7 percent, and Antonio Villaraigosa 5 percent. Nearly four in ten voters remain undecided, underscoring how unsettled the race is.

A new Politico poll (conducted by TrueDot/UC Berkeley/POLITICO among 875 registered voters and 299 political influencers) shows Katie Porter leading the field with 21 percent. Chad Bianco is at 15 percent, followed by Steve Hilton at 10 percent. Xavier Becerra and Antonio Villaraigosa each garnered 9 percent. 

What It All Means

With a crowded field and new candidates entering the mix all the time, California’s 2026 gubernatorial race is wide open. The primary will be held on June 2, 2026, and the general election on November 3, 2026.

Unlike most states, California voters will not have to worry about spoilers or wasted votes. The nonpartisan, top two system guarantees that the final contest in November will be between the two candidates who win the most support in the open primary, and that the eventual winner will take office with a true majority mandate.