In June of this year, California voters will consider an abundance of current issues as they vote for a candidate for governor in the primary election. With longtime governor Gavin Newsom stepping down, the 2026 race for governor indicates a new era of changing leadership that could redefine practice and policy in the state.
The primary election for California governor is set to take place on June 2, 2026. An overwhelming number of candidates are running for the position, all vying to become a candidate in the general election later this November.
Some candidates, like Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, and Katie Porter, have cemented themselves as prominent figures in California government due to past or current civic roles. Becerra acted as the California Attorney General, while Mahan is currently the mayor of San Jose. Porter served as a U.S. Representative, and had a noteworthy but ultimately unsuccessful campaign for senate.
Others, like Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, hope to usher in an era detached from California’s Democratic history with a Republican victory. Bianco is currently the sheriff of Riverside county, while Hilton is a former Fox News host and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
The candidates’ beliefs vary widely, and were tested in a recent debate where they clashed on opinions surrounding topical issues like climate and the cost of living. However, Republican and Democratic contenders alike found common ground on the need to increase housing supply in California. Additionally, many candidates agreed on the need for policy to change in order to combat long-standing problems plaguing Californians.
Some voters interpret this as signaling the need for a departure from California’s traditional Democratic leadership. The belief that change must come to California governance seems to ring true across the state’s Republican fringes. Despite California’s long-standing record as a blue state, Republicans Bianco and Hilton are currently leading in the polls due to a crowded field of Democrat candidates.
California’s open ballot system means that the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, would run against each other in the general election. With two Republican candidates polling the strongest, the chances that November’s election could have both contenders be Republican seems more and more likely. A split vote between the many Democratic candidates could further increase those chances.
This doesn’t mean that a majority of California voters are Republican: instead, it signals a need for Democrat-aligned voters to become informed on their party’s candidates.
Gillian French-Liu ‘27 emphasized the importance of this: “even if some of us can’t vote yet, that doesn’t mean voting doesn’t directly impact us and our communities,” she highlighted. “The sooner we become aware and educate ourselves in candidates and their policies, the more power we gain as citizens in a democracy.”
