2026 California gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 California gubernatorial election
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  2022 November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)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

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, incumbent superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond, former California Senate president pro tempore Toni Atkins, former controller Betty Yee, and former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa have declared their candidacies. The field of high-profile candidates is expected to expand in the coming years and become extremely competitive.

Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Withdrew

Declined

Republican Party

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Green Party

Declared

No party preference

Publicly expressed interest

Primary election

Endorsements

Toni Atkins (D)

State officials

State senators

State assemblymembers

Labor unions

Organizations

Eleni Kounalakis (D)

Federal officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

State senators

State assemblymembers

Local officials

Notable individuals

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Chad
Bianco (R)
Brian
Dahle (R)
Steve
Garvey (R)
Steve
Hilton (R)
Rob
Bonta (D)
Rick
Caruso (D)
Eleni
Kounalakis (D)
Katie
Porter (D)
Antonio
Villaraigosa (D)
Betty
Yee (D)
OthersUndecided
Breakthrough Campaigns [29] November 22–26, 20241,228 (LV)± 2.8%6%9%18%6%5%8%21%3%3%9% [b] 12%
14%21%6%9%24%3%6%6% [c] 11%
California Elections and Policy Poll [30] September 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%5%5%4%4%3%2%14%3%3%7% [d] 50%
Tulchin Research [31] [A] August 8–12, 2024800 (LV)± 3.5%13%10%10%13%7%8% [e] 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 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn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

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. Laphonza Butler (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 3%; Xavier Becerra (D) with 2%; Toni Atkins with 1%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 0%
  3. Toni Atkins (D) with 3%; Tony Thurmond (D) with 2%; Stephen Cloobeck (D) with 1%
  4. Xavier Becerra (D) with 3%; Lanhee Chen (R) with 2%; Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 1%
  5. Toni Atkins (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) with 4%

Partisan clients

  1. Poll sponsored by Villaraigosa's campaign

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Yee</span> American politician (born 1957)

Betty T. Yee is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as California State Controller from 2015 to 2023. She previously served as a member of the California Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2015. She won the open seat for Controller in the 2014 election, with 54% of the vote. Yee won reelection in 2018, defeating Republican Konstantinos Roditis in a landslide, and she served as Controller until January 2, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleni Kounalakis</span> American politician (born 1966)

Eleni Kounalakis is an American politician, businesswoman, and diplomat serving as the 50th lieutenant governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman and the first Greek American elected to the office.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Thurmond</span> American politician (born 1968)

Tony Krajewski Thurmond is an American politician and educator, serving as the 28th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2019. Thurmond was narrowly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2018 over his opponent, Marshall Tuck, and reelected in 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 15th Assembly district from 2014 to 2018, encompassing the northern East Bay.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 California State Treasurer election</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 California State Treasurer election</span>

The 2026 California State Treasurer election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the State Treasurer of California. Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Fiona Ma is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office; she is instead running for lieutenant governor. Candidates must declare by March 6 with primaries being held on June 2.

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  29. State of the California Governor Race
  30. California Elections and Policy Poll
  31. Tulchin Research

Official campaign websites