California Governor's Race 2026: A Fluid Field Amidst Controversy
The race for California governor in 2026 has been marked by several significant developments, including the exit of a leading Democratic candidate, the cancellation of a major debate due to controversy over participant selection, and shifts in polling. The top-two primary election is scheduled for June 2, with mail-in ballots set to be sent to voters in approximately three weeks.
Key Developments
Candidate Withdrawals and Allegations
Eric Swalwell
U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor on April 7, 2026. This decision followed reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN containing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from multiple women. Swalwell denied the allegations and apologized for "mistakes in judgment" he said he made in his past. He subsequently announced his resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to the allegations, a March 2026 poll by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies showed Swalwell and fellow Democrat Katie Porter each with 13% support among California voters, the highest for Democratic candidates.
Following his exit, analysts noted that his supporters were likely to shift to other candidates, with Porter and Tom Steyer mentioned as potential beneficiaries.
Betty Yee
Former California State Controller Betty Yee ended her campaign for governor on April 27, 2026. Yee cited low levels of support from voters and donors as reasons for her decision. Her name will still appear on the June 2 primary ballot. According to campaign fundraising reports, Yee raised nearly $583,000 in 2025 for her gubernatorial bid. She later endorsed Tom Steyer.
USC Debate Cancellation
The University of Southern California (USC) canceled a planned gubernatorial debate co-sponsored with KABC-TV Los Angeles less than 24 hours before its scheduled date. The cancellation followed criticism over the exclusion of several candidates of color from the participation list.
USC stated that concerns about the selection criteria had "created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters." The university said it and KABC could not agree on expanding the number of candidates.
The debate's selection criteria, developed by USC political science professor Christian Grose, used a formula based on polling and fundraising. The invited candidates were all white: Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, and San José Mayor Matt Mahan; and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. Not invited were Democrats Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Tony Thurmond, and Betty Yee.
Following the cancellation, multiple candidates, including Becerra, criticized the selection process. Tom Steyer stated his team secured a venue in downtown Los Angeles to organize a new event. USC defended Professor Grose's methodology, stating it was data-driven and had broad academic support.
CNN Debate
CNN will host a California gubernatorial primary debate on May 5. The two-hour event will be moderated by CNN anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins. To qualify, candidates must receive at least 3% support in two approved polls and have raised, contributed, or loaned a minimum of $1 million for their gubernatorial campaign. As of the announcement, six Democrats and two Republicans had met these thresholds.
Party Endorsement and Calls for Withdrawal
At the California Democratic Party convention, no candidate secured the 60% delegate vote required for the party's official endorsement. Preliminary results showed Swalwell with 24% of delegate votes, Yee with 17%, and Becerra with 14%.
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks issued an open letter urging candidates with limited paths to victory to withdraw from the race, citing concerns that a large field of Democratic candidates could split the vote and allow two Republicans to advance from the primary.
Several candidates, including Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa, criticized the request. Thurmond suggested the request disproportionately targeted candidates of color.
Current Candidate Field
The following candidates have qualified for the June 2 primary ballot.
Democratic Candidates
Candidate Key Details Xavier Becerra Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Attorney General. A California Democratic Party poll conducted after Swalwell's exit showed his support increasing to 13%, tying him with Tom Steyer. He has been endorsed by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. Katie Porter Former U.S. Representative. Polling at 13% in a March UC Berkeley poll and 9-10% in other recent surveys. She has proposed eliminating state income tax for households earning less than $100,000. Tom Steyer Billionaire environmental activist and former presidential candidate. Polling at 14-15% in recent surveys. He has invested over $133 million of his own money into his campaign. He has been endorsed by Our Revolution and Congressman Jared Huffman. Matt Mahan Mayor of San José. A Super PAC supporting Mahan reported a surge in donations following Swalwell's exit, including a $1 million contribution from developer Rick Caruso. Antonio Villaraigosa Former Mayor of Los Angeles. Tony Thurmond State Superintendent of Public Instruction.Republican Candidates
Candidate Key Details Steve Hilton Former Fox News host. He has led in multiple recent polls, with 16-17% support. He has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Chad Bianco Riverside County Sheriff. Polling at 10-16% in recent surveys.Political Context
The California governor's race uses a top-two primary system: all candidates appear on the same ballot, and the two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election.
Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. According to multiple sources familiar with his thinking, Newsom has been monitoring the race closely and is evaluating the potential for a scenario where two Republican candidates advance. He has held discussions with other Democratic leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Newsom has not endorsed any candidate.
Recent polling indicates a fluid race, with a CBS News/YouGov survey showing Steve Hilton leading with 16%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Xavier Becerra at 13%, Chad Bianco at 10%, and Katie Porter at 9%, with 26% of voters undecided. A California Democratic Party poll showed Republican candidates Hilton and Bianco leading the field.
Democrats have dominated California state government for years, and a Republican has not won a statewide election in California in two decades.