The upcoming California governor’s race is drawing attention for its crowded field and the range of candidates, including former presidential hopefuls, a county sheriff, two women who could become the state’s first female governor, current and former House members, an ex-Cabinet secretary, and at least one billionaire. The campaign has already seen controversy and setbacks before officially beginning.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s pending departure due to term limits has opened up the race for his successor. The position offers a salary of $242,000 per year and serves as a national political platform. Newsom is expected to consider a presidential run after his term ends in January 2027.
Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell announced his candidacy on Thursday. He previously served as a House manager during President Donald Trump’s 2021 impeachment trial and briefly ran for president in 2020.
The next governor will face significant challenges such as homelessness and projected budget deficits. The primary election is scheduled for June 2, with candidates able to begin qualifying next month. Governor Newsom has not endorsed any candidate.
Democrats have a strong advantage in California, outnumbering registered Republicans by nearly two-to-one statewide. No Republican has won a statewide office in almost twenty years. With many Democratic candidates holding similar views on key issues like affordability and opposition to Trump, distinguishing themselves will be difficult.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is positioning himself toward the political center by highlighting his record on tax cuts and crime reduction during his tenure as mayor. Billionaire Tom Steyer argues that breaking up utility monopolies could help lower electricity rates in California.
Despite several well-known contenders, there is no clear frontrunner. “It’s a five-way, six-way jump ball and that ball could go in any direction,” said Democratic consultant Michael Trujillo. Under California’s system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation; with so many candidates dividing votes, it may only take just over 20% of the vote—or less—to move forward.
Other Democrats running include former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former health secretary Xavier Becerra, former state controller Betty Yee, schools superintendent Tony Thurmond, and real estate developer Stephen Cloobeck. Attorney General Rob Bonta may also enter the race after previously saying he would not run.
Katie Porter gained early momentum after entering the race in March but faced criticism following viral videos showing her clashing with reporters and staffers. Her campaign responded by gathering support from allies; it remains uncertain how these incidents will affect her standing with voters.
Xavier Becerra was linked to controversy when prosecutors alleged that Sean McCluskie—a longtime aide—was involved in misusing funds from one of Becerra’s dormant campaign accounts after becoming Becerra’s chief of staff in Washington D.C.. While Becerra is not implicated in any indictment, rival Antonio Villaraigosa released an ad raising questions about his judgment based on statements made during interviews regarding knowledge of payments from his account.
Republicans hope to capitalize on divisions among Democrats despite their minority status statewide. Last year saw Republican Steve Garvey finish second in the U.S Senate primary before losing to Democrat Adam Schiff in November’s general election—a result that leading GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and commentator Steve Hilton aim to replicate this cycle.
