An election will be held in the U.S. state of California on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. The nominees are Democratic former secretary of health and human services Xavier Becerra and Republican political commentator Steve Hilton. Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom is ineligible to seek re-election to a third term.
The statewide top-two primary election was held on June 2, 2026, with Becerra and Hilton advancing to the general election among the 61 candidates on the ballot. Republicans have not won a gubernatorial race in California since 2006.
An election was held in the U.S. state of California on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. The nominees were Democratic former secretary of health and human services Xavier Becerra and Republican political commentator Steve Hilton. Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom was ineligible to seek re-election to a third term. Becerra defeated Hilton.
The statewide top-two primary election was held on June 2, 2026, with Becerra and Hilton advancing to the general election among the 61 candidates on the ballot. Republicans have not won a gubernatorial race in California since 2006.
Candidates
Democratic Party
Advanced to general
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. secretary of health and human services (2021–2025)
Eliminated in primary
Akinyemi Agbede, mathematician and educator
Mohammad Arif, immigrants organizer
Larry Azevedo, businessman
Carolina Buhler, UCLA student
Louis De Barraicua, teacher and business owner
Sophia Edum-a-Sam, project manager
Derek Grasty, Mount Pleasant Elementary School District trustee (2024–present)
Joel Jacob, business owner
Gary Howard Kidgell, building consultant
Matthew Levy, physicist
Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose (2023–present)
Kalid Meky (write-in)
Barack Obama Shaw, business owner
Thunder Parley, software engineer
Jibri J. Peavy (write-in)
Katie Porter, former U.S. representative from California's 47th congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
Raji Rab, pilot and perennial candidate
Satish Rao, UC Berkeley professor
Scott Shields, executive director
Tom Steyer, environmental activist, founder of Farallon Capital and candidate for president in 2020
Tony Thurmond, superintendent of public instruction of California (2019–present)
Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013), former speaker of the California State Assembly (1998–2000), and candidate for governor in 2018
Erin Zezulak, consultant
Withdrawn
Ethan Agarwal, tech entrepreneur (ran for U.S. House)
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) (endorsed Steyer)
Ian Calderon, former majority leader of the California Assembly (2016–2020) from the 57th district (2012–2020) (initially endorsed Swalwell)
Stephen Cloobeck, founder of Diamond Resorts (initially endorsed Swalwell)
Zoltan Istvan, founder of the Transhumanist Party, Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018, and Republican candidate for president in 2020
Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California (2019–present) (running for state treasurer)
Fiona Ma, California state treasurer (2019–present) (running for lieutenant governor)
Eric Swalwell, former U.S. representative from California's 14th congressional district (2013–2026) and candidate for president in 2020 (remained on ballot)
Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023) (remained on ballot; endorsed Steyer)
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) (initially endorsed Swalwell; then Becerra)
Buffy Wicks, state assemblymember from the 14th district (2018–present)
Republican Party
Advanced to general
Steve Hilton, political commentator and former adviser to UK prime minister David Cameron (2010–2012)
Eliminated in primary
Ché Ahn, pastor (write-in)
James Athans Jr., real estate agent
Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner (2019–present)
Patricia De Luca Basualdo, real estate broker
Randeep Dhillon, businessman and farmer
Rafael Hernandez, businessman
Alicia Olivia Lapp
Leo Naranjo IV, veteran
Tim Nelson, diplomat
Gretha Solórzano, retired nuclear engineer
Leo Zacky, vice president of Zacky Farms and candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022
David Zickefoose, real estate investor
Disqualified
Brandon Jones, marketing agency founder
Jimmy Parker, former judge
Ebony Taylor, business owner
Withdrawn
Sophia Brink, legislative aide to San Mateo County supervisor David Canepa (endorsed Hilton)
Kyle Langford, construction manager (ran for CA-26 as a Democrat)
David Serpa, real estate business owner and runner-up for California's 39th congressional district in 2024
Jon Slavet, tech entrepreneur
Declined
Mel Gibson, special ambassador to Hollywood (2025–present), actor, and filmmaker
Richard Grenell, special presidential envoy for special missions (2025–present)
Kevin McCarthy, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2023) from California's 20th congressional district (2007–2023)
Peace and Freedom Party
Eliminated in primary
Ramsey Robinson, school social worker
Green Party
Eliminated in primary
Butch Ware, associate professor and nominee for vice president in 2024 (write-in)
Libertarian Party
Withdrawn
Tom Woodard, retired CEO (endorsed Hilton, remained on ballot)
Not on primary ballot
Nicholas Thompson, college student
Declined
Art Olivier, former mayor of Bellflower
No party preference
Eliminated in primary
Naomi Bar-Lev, musician and writer
Joseph Cabrera, administrator
Elaine Culotti, entrepreneur
Michael J. Dilger (write-in)
LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott, chaplain
Serge Fiankan, real estate broker
Lukasz Adam Filinski
Max Fomin, business owner
Sean Forbes (write-in)
Don Grundmann, chiropractor
Jon Henderson, business owner
Lewis Herms
Dawit Kellel
Anne Komarovsk, communications executive
Dirk Langer (write-in)
Duane Terrence Loynes Jr., nominee of the American Solidarity Party
Amanda Martin, entrepreneur
Brent Maupin, civil engineer
Daniel Mercuri, author, Republican candidate for governor in 2021 and 2022, and candidate for California's 25th congressional district in 2020
Mauro Alberto Orozco, business owner
Reza Safarnejad, business owner
Sam Sandak, filmmaker
Christine Sarmiento, public health nurse
Frederic Schultz, human rights attorney
Margaret Trowe, hospitality worker
Nancy Young, businesswoman
Not on primary ballot
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
Campaign
Sixty-one candidates qualified for the primary ballot. California uses a top-two primary system in which all candidates, regardless of party, appear on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to the general election.
Among Republicans, Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco and political commentator Steve Hilton emerged as the leading candidates, while the Democratic field remained fragmented. This raised concerns that two Republicans could advance to the general election. Those concerns eased after President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton, increasing the chance of a Democrat making it into the runoff because some Bianco supporters would likely shift their support to Hilton due to Trump's endorsement.
Before Swalwell's exit from the race, polls showed that the three Democrats with the greatest amount of public support were representative Eric Swalwell, hedge fund manager and 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer, and former representative Katie Porter. Other notable Democrats running included former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, former HHS Secretary and state attorney general Xavier Becerra, mayor of San Jose Matt Mahan, and superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla opted against running for governor, despite speculation by the media to the contrary.
Eric Swalwell sexual assault allegations
On April 10, 2026, the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations from a former staffer who provided credible claims that Swalwell had sexually assaulted her on two occasions. That same day, CNN published additional claims from four women, including one allegation of rape and others describing inappropriate conduct and unsolicited nude photos. CNN reported that it had corroborated the accounts. Swalwell denied all of the allegations and sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the women threatening legal action.
Following the allegations, several staff members resigned from Eric Swalwell's campaign, including co-chairs Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray. The California Teachers Association revoked its endorsement, while U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego also withdrew their support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called on Swalwell to end his campaign. By April 11, all of Swalwell's 21 fellow members of Congress previously endorsing him had withdrawn their support. The following day, he announced that he was suspending his campaign for governor. On April 13, Swalwell announced he had plans to resign from Congress, and formally left on April 14.
Endorsements
Xavier Becerra (D)
U.S. representatives
Salud Carbajal, CA-24 (2017–present)
Tony Cárdenas, former CA-29 (2013–2025)
Gil Cisneros, CA-31 (2025–present) and former CA-39 (2019–2021)
Jim Clyburn, former House majority whip (2007–2011, 2019–2023) from SC-06 (1993–present)
Jasmine Crockett, TX-30 (2023–present)
Ted Lieu, CA-36 (2015–present)
Raul Ruiz, CA-25 (2013–present)
Mark Takano, CA-39 (2013–present)
State legislators
David Alvarez, AD-80 (2020–present) (previously endorsed Atkins)
Joaquin Arambula, AD-31 (2016–present)
Bob Archuleta, SD-30 (2018–present) (co-endorsement with Villaraigosa; previously endorsed Atkins)
Juan Carrillo, AD-39 (2022–present)
Sabrina Cervantes, SD-31 (2024–present)
Mike Fong, AD-49 (2022–present) (previously endorsed Swalwell)
John Harabedian, AD-41 (2024–present)
Melissa Hurtado, SD-16 (2018–present)
Jerry McNerney, SD-05 (2024–present) and former CA-09 (2007–2023)
Stephanie Nguyen, AD-10 (2020–present)
Blanca Pacheco, AD-64 (2022–present)
Darshana Patel, AD-76 (2024–present)
Rhodesia Ransom, AD-13 (2024–present)
Eloise Reyes, SD-29 (2024–present)
Robert A. Rivas, speaker of the state assembly (2023–present) from AD-29 (2018–present)
Celeste Rodriguez, AD-43 (2024–present)
Michelle Rodriguez, AD-53 (2024–present)
Blanca Rubio, AD-48 (2016–present)
Pilar Schiavo, AD-40 (2022–present)
Catherine Stefani, AD-19 (2024–present)
Lori Wilson, AD-11 (2022–present)
Rick Zbur, AD-51 (2022–present) (previously endorsed Steyer and Yee)
6 other state legislators
Sharon Quirk-Silva, AD-67 (2022–present) and former AD-65 (2012–2014, 2016–2022) (endorsed Steyer)
Local officials
Luis Alejo, Monterey County supervisor from the 1st district (2017–present)
Sukhee Kang, former mayor of Irvine (2008–2012)
Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles city councilmember from the 2nd district (2023–present)
Rex Richardson, mayor of Long Beach (2022–present)
Mary Salas, former mayor of Chula Vista (2014–2022)
Individuals
Dolores Huerta, labor leader
Labor unions
California Faculty Association (co-endorsement with Thurmond)
California State Council of Laborers
ILWU Southern California District Council
Laborers' International Union of North America
Service Employees International Union California (previously endorsed Swalwell; co-endorsement with Steyer)
Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Organizations
Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club (previously endorsed Yee)
California Young Democrats
California Medical Association (previously endorsed Swalwell)
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
Equality California (previously declined to endorse)
Los Angeles County Young Democrats
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
Stonewall Young Democrats
The Independent
San Francisco Examiner
Chad Bianco (R)
Executive branch officials
Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California (2025–present)