California gubernatorial election, 2026

About This Race

The 2026 California gubernatorial election will determine the state's governor for a four-year term. Voters will choose between candidates from various political parties to lead California's executive branch. This election is significant as it impacts state policy on issues like climate change, housing, and healthcare.

Candidates

Important Dates

Election Date: November 3, 2026
Registration Deadline: May 18, 2026
Early Voting Starts: May 4, 2026
Early Voting Ends: June 1, 2026

How to Vote

California voters can register to vote in-person, by mail (postmarked by May 18, 2026), or online (by May 18, 2026). Early voting is available from May 4, 2026 to June 1, 2026. On Election Day, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Absentee/mail-in voting details were not specified in the source.

Incumbent

Democratic

Eleni Kounalakis

Lieutenant Governor

Biography

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor of California, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Previously served as California Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to Hungary.

Incumbent

Democratic

Gavin Newsom

Governor

Biography

Governor of California since 2019. Previously served as Lieutenant Governor of California (2011-2019) and Mayor of San Francisco (2004-2011).

Analila Joya

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Andy Blanch

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Antonio Villaraigosa

Governor

Biography

Antonio Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013. He previously served on the Los Angeles City Council from 2003 to 2005 and in the California Assembly from 1994 to 2000. From 1998 to 2000, Villaraigosa served as speaker of the Assembly.

Brian Domingo

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

Chad Bianco

Governor

Biography

Chad Bianco was elected Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator of Riverside County in 2018. He had worked at the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for 26 years before assuming office as sheriff-coroner-public administrator.

Christine Sarmiento

Governor of California

Biography

Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse, and Operations Manager. Born in the Philippines, raised in poverty, immigrated to the U.S. at 18. Earned RN license in 2010 while working full time and raising two young sons. Built a career in operations and management, leading teams of hundreds. Served on front lines during COVID-19 as a member of the California Medical Assistance Team.

Daniel Amare

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Daniel Mercuri

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

David Asem

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

David Bush

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

David Hadley

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

Doug Ose

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Eric Swalwell

Governor

Biography

Eric Swalwell was first elected to the U.S. House in 2012. He previously served on the Dublin City Council from 2010 to 2013 and worked as a prosecutor and deputy district attorney in Alameda County.

Frederic Prinz von Anhalt

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

George Konik

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Gilbert Ray Cisneros

Representative

Biography

Former member of the House of Representatives from California's 31st district (2019-2021), returning in 2025.

Grant Handzlik

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Harmesh Kumar

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Jacob Morris

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

James Tran

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

John Leslie-Brown

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Josh Fryday

Lieutenant Governor of California

Biography

Josh Fryday is a Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election. He currently serves as Chief Service Officer for California, overseeing volunteer and civic engagement initiatives. Fryday previously served as a city council member and mayor of Novato, California.

Joshua Laine

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Katie Porter

Governor

Biography

Katie Porter is a Democratic candidate for Governor of California in 2026. She is a current U.S. Representative from California's 47th district.

Democratic

Laura Friedman

House of Representatives

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

Leo Naranjo IV

Governor of California

Biography

Running for California State Governor 2026. Born and raised in Sacramento, CA. Retired from the U.S. Military, Sacramento County, and Federal Service. Over 30 years of customer service and financial experience. Dedicated professional promoting positive outcomes and overcoming adversity.

Lewis Herms

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Matt Mahan

Governor of California

Biography

Matt Mahan was first elected mayor of San Jose in 2022, previously serving on the San Jose City Council from 2020 to 2023. He attended Bellarmine College Prep on a work-study scholarship and graduated from Harvard, where he served as student body president.

Mauro Alberto Orozco

Governor of California

Biography

Small business owner who has dealt with loss of twin son, divorce, losing home to Wells Fargo fraud, homelessness, and government assistance. Fighting government overreach, regulations, taxes, and nefarious charges on the trucking industry. Focused on lowering cost of living, restoring safety, and rebuilding trust in government.

Republican

Michael Bilger

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Michael Bracamontes

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Peace and Freedom Party

Ramsey Robinson

Governor of California

Biography

Ramsey Robinson is a dedicated mental health social worker and socialist organizer in San Francisco. He earned his Masters in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles, and became a school social worker in San Francisco’s Bayview/Hunter’s point. He is active in the Palestine solidarity movement and advocates for socialism as an economic system where working people control wealth to meet people's and planetary needs.

Scot Sturtevant

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Serge Fiankan

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Stasyi Barth

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Republican

Steve Hilton

Governor

Biography

Steve Hilton is a Fox News Channel contributor who hosted The Next Revolution on the network from 2017 to 2023. He previously worked as a senior advisor to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and an advertising executive.

Ted Crisell

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Thomas Steyer

Governor of California

Biography

Tom Steyer founded the hedge fund Farallon Capital Management in 1986 and managed it until 2012. In 2013, Steyer founded NextGen America, which seeks to 'educate and empower young people to organize, vote, and lead.' Steyer also ran in the 2020 presidential election before suspending his campaign on Feb. 29, 2020.

Democratic

Thunder Parley

Governor of California

Biography

Professional problem solver with a background in tech. Taught himself C programming in high school, attended Pepperdine, and worked two decades in Silicon Valley fixing complex systems. Running to end government mismanagement and lead California toward an affordable future.

Timothy Richardson

Governor

No biography available for this candidate yet.

Democratic

Xavier Becerra

Governor

Biography

Xavier Becerra served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2021 to 2025. He previously served as Attorney General of California from 2017 to 2021 and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017.

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