2026 California gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 California gubernatorial election
Flag of California.svg
  2022 November 3, 2026 (2026-11-3)2030 

Incumbent Governor

Gavin Newsom
Democratic



The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. The statewide top-two primary election will take place on June 2, 2026. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection.

Contents

Over a dozen candidates have already declared a campaign, with the field of candidates expected to expand.

Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Withdrew

Declined

Republican Party

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Green Party

Declared

No party preference

Declared

  • Javen Allen, actor [28]

Publicly expressed interest

Primary election

Endorsements

Toni Atkins (D)

Statewide officials

State senators

State assemblymembers

Local officials

Labor unions

Organizations

Chad Bianco (R)

U.S. representatives

State senators

State assemblymembers

Local officials

Eleni Kounalakis (D)

Federal officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

State senators

State assemblymembers

Local officials

Notable individuals

Tony Thurmond (D)

State senators

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Chad
Bianco (R)
Rick
Caruso (D)
John
Cox (R)
Brian
Dahle (R)
Steve
Garvey (R)
Kamala
Harris (D)
Eleni
Kounalakis (D)
Katie
Porter (D)
Antonio
Villaraigosa (D)
Betty
Yee (D)
OtherUndecided
Emerson College [44] [A] [b] February 10–11, 2025469 (RV)± 4.5%57%4%9%4%2%9% [c] 15%
5%21%9%3%18% [d] 44%
Capitol Weekly [45] February 3–7, 20251,200 (RV)8%21%23%2%16%2%2%26% [e]
8%21%5%26%3%3%32% [f]
Breakthrough Campaigns [46] November 22–26, 20241,228 (LV)± 2.8%6%5%9%18%8%21%3%3%15% [g] 12%
14%6%21%9%24%3%6%6% [h] 11%
University of Southern California/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly Pomona [47] September 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%5%5%3%2%14%3%3%15% [i] 50%
Tulchin Research (D) [48] [B] August 8–12, 2024800 (LV)± 3.5%13%10%13%7%18% [j] 40%

Debates

2026 California gubernatorial primary debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
AtkinsKounalakisThurmondYee
1Sep. 29, 2024 National Union of Healthcare Workers
Los Angeles Times , The Associated Press, Politico
Laurel Rosenhall
Lisa Matthews
Melanie Mason
YouTube PPPP

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [49] Solid DJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [50] Solid DFebruary 6, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. This poll was stated to be for a "Democratic primary", which does not exist in California
  3. Toni Atkins (D) and "Someone else" with 3%; Stephen Cloobeck (D), Tony Thurmond (D), and Michael Younger (D) with 1%
  4. "Someone else" with 8%; Toni Atkins (D) Stephen Cloobeck (D), and Tony Thurmond (D) with 3%; and Michael Younger (D) with 1%
  5. Lanhee Chen (R) with 10%; Rob Bonta (D) with 7%; Xavier Becerra (D) with 4%; Toni Atkins (D) and Laphonza Butler (D) with 2%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 1%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
  6. Rob Bonta (D) and Lanhee Chen (R) with 9%; Laphonza Butler (D) with 4%; Toni Atkins (D) with 3%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
  7. Rob Bonta (D) with 6%; Laphonza Butler (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 3%; Xavier Becerra (D) with 2%; Toni Atkins (D) with 1%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
  8. Toni Atkins (D) with 3%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 1%
  9. Rob Bonta (D) and Steve Hilton (R) with 4%; Xavier Becerra (D) with 3%; Lanhee Chen (R) with 2%; Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 1%
  10. Steve Hilton (R) with 10%; Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 4%

Partisan clients

  1. This poll was sponsored by Inside California Politics and The Hill
  2. Poll sponsored by Villaraigosa's campaign

References

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Official campaign websites