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The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former California Senate president pro tempore Toni Atkins, and former Controller Betty Yee have declared their candidacies. The field of candidates is expected to expand in the coming years.
Candidates
Democratic Party
Declared
- Toni Atkins, former President pro tempore of the California State Senate (2018–2024) from the 39th district (2016–present)[1]
- Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California (2019–present) and former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2010–2013)[2]
- Jesse Perez, former Treasurer of Future Farmers of America (2022–2023)[3]
- Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2019–present)[4]
- Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023)[5]
- Michael L. Younger, vice president of Calbright College (2022–present) and former California Deputy Director of the Workforce[6][non-primary source needed]
Publicly expressed interest
- Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California (2021–present)[7]
- Xavier Becerra, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–present), former Attorney General of California (2017–2021), and former U.S. Representative (1993–2017)[8]
- Rick Caruso, real estate developer and runner-up for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022[9]
- Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018[10]
Potential
- Karen Bass, mayor of Los Angeles (2022–present), former U.S. Representative from California's 37th congressional district (2011–2022), and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2008–2010)[11]
- Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator (2023–present) and former president of EMILY's List (2021–2023)[12]
- Katie Porter, U.S. Representative for California's 47th congressional district (2019–present)[13]
Withdrew
- Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present) (running for lieutenant governor)[5]
Republican Party
Declared
- Leo Zacky, Los Angeles County, Vice President of Zacky Farms, 4th Generation Californian, Farmer, Businessman, Broadcaster. Leo Zacky is the host of the syndicated Radio and Television show America Matters. Leo Zacky is a former board member of the California Poultry Federation (2009-2019) https://www.LeoZacky.com
Potential
- Chad Bianco, Sheriff-Coroner of Riverside County (2019–present)[14]
Declined
- Kevin McCarthy, former U.S. Representative for California's 20th congressional district (2007–2023) and former Speaker of the House (2023)[15]
Independent
Potential
- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, actor, businessman, and professional wrestler. [16]
Endorsements
Toni Atkins (D)
- State official
- Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State (2021–present) and former state assemblymember from the 79th district (2012–2021)[1]
- State senator
- Christine Kehoe, former state senator from the 39th district (2004–2012) and former state assemblymember from the 76th district (2000–2004)[1]
- Organization
Eleni Kounalakis (D)
- U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State (2009–2013), former U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009) and Democratic nominee for president in 2016[18]
- U.S. Senators
- Barbara Boxer, former U.S. Senator from California (1993–2017)[7]
- U.S. Representative
- Mike Thompson, U.S. Representative from California's 4th congressional district (1999–present)[18]
- State senator
- Bill Dodd, state senator from the 3rd district (2016–present)[18]
- State assemblymembers
- Tasha Boerner Horvath, state assemblymember from the 77th district (2018–present)[18]
- Kevin McCarty, state assemblymember from the 7th district (2014–present)[18]
- Diane Papan, state assemblymember from the 21st district (2022–present)[18]
- Luz Rivas, state assemblymember from the 39th district (2018–present)[18]
- Local official
- Art Agnos, former Mayor of San Francisco (1988–1992)[11]
- Individuals
- Markos Kounalakis, journalist and Second Gentleman of California (2019–present) (her husband)[19]
- Angelo Tsakopoulos, real estate developer (her father)[7]
References
- ^ a b c Mason, Melanie (January 19, 2024). "California Senate leader aims to be the state's first woman and LGBTQ+ governor". Politico. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Cadelago, Christopher (April 24, 2023). "Eleni Kounalakis first to launch campaign for California governor in 2026". Politico. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Charrier, Emily (May 24, 2023). "Gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee swings by Sonoma". The Sonoma Index-Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Flores, Hilda (September 26, 2023). "State Superintendent Tony Thurmond officially announces run for governor". KCRA. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ a b Bollag, Sophia (April 24, 2023). "Former California Controller Betty Yee says she will run to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "Michael L Younger for Governor". Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c White, Jeremy B.; Korte, Lara; Brown, Matthew; Castanos, Ramon (May 25, 2023). "Kounalakis, Clinton and California clout". Politico. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Cadelego, Christopher; Lippman, Daniel (April 23, 2024). "Becerra plots political future after Biden administration". Politico. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Party-switching billionaire targets California Republicans". POLITICO. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "'I want to serve': Former LA Mayor Villaraigosa not ruling out another run for governor in 2026". Fox 40 News. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Koehn, Josh (April 24, 2023). "Eleni Kounalakis Running for California Governor. Will Kamala Harris Join Her?". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Blake; Cadelago, Christopher; Gardiner, Dustin; Korte, Lana (October 12, 2023). "Laphonza Butler has options". Politico. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (January 10, 2023). "Rep. Katie Porter launches a U.S. Senate bid". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Cadelago, Christopher (April 11, 2024). "Firebrand sheriff and Fox News favorite considering run for California governor". Politico. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Solender, Andrew (February 13, 2024). "McCarthy floats future run for office in rare Capitol Hill visit". Axios. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Cain, Sian (November 10, 2023). "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: I was asked to run for US president by multiple political parties". The Guardian. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ "IBEW 569 Endorses Toni Atkins for Governor!". IBEW 569. May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rosenhall, Lauren (May 25, 2023). "Hillary Clinton backs Eleni Kounalakis for California governor". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Porter, Jacque (April 26, 2023). "Who is California gubernatorial candidate Eleni Kounalakis?". Fox 40 News Los Angeles. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
External links
- Official campaign websites
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