who are the candidates for california governor

Here’s the current field in the 2026 California governor’s race, based on public reporting and official-style candidate lists as of late 2025.

Because this race is still evolving and the filing deadline is in 2026, treat this as a snapshot , not a final ballot list.

Major Democrats

These are some of the better-known Democratic contenders frequently mentioned in statewide coverage.

• Xavier Becerra – Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former California attorney general; long‑time statewide and federal officeholder.

• Katie Porter – Former Orange County congressmember and UCI law professor; known for aggressive oversight hearings in Congress.

• Tony Thurmond – California state superintendent of public instruction; pitching himself as a labor‑friendly, education‑focused candidate.

• Antonio Villaraigosa – Former mayor of Los Angeles, previous gubernatorial candidate, and longtime Democratic power broker.

• Betty Yee – Former state controller with a background in budgeting and tax administration.

• Stephen J. Cloobeck – Businessman and founder of Diamond Resorts; Democratic donor who has stepped in as a candidate.

• Ian Calderon – Former Assembly majority leader from Los Angeles County.

Some broader, more speculative lists also mention additional prominent Democrats who have filed or flirted with running, including sitting officeholders and former federal officials, but not all of them are treated as top‑tier contenders in recent polling and TV coverage.

Major Republicans

Republicans are hoping to exploit voter frustration and the open seat to break through in deep‑blue California.

• Chad Bianco – Riverside County sheriff; recent polling has shown him near or at the top of the pack in some surveys.

• Steve Hilton – Conservative commentator and former adviser to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron; running as an anti‑establishment reformer.

• Leo Zacky – Businessman from the well‑known Zacky Farms family; positioning himself as a pro‑business Republican.

Several down‑ballot or outsider Republican names also appear on broad candidate rosters compiled from filings and early announcements.

Third‑party and independent candidates

So far, the best‑documented non‑major‑party contender is from the Green Party, though filing is still open and more names may emerge.

• Butch Ware – Green Party candidate listed in statewide overviews of the 2026 race.

Larger “full field” lists also show independents and minor‑party hopefuls who have declared campaigns or filed preliminary paperwork, but they generally receive minimal media coverage compared with the major‑party contenders.

What to keep in mind

• Not final yet: Candidates have until early 2026 to officially qualify for the ballot, so this roster can still change (new entries, withdrawals, or non‑filings).

• Crowded primary: California uses a top‑two primary, meaning all candidates run on one ballot and the top two—regardless of party—advance to November.

• Polling is fluid: Late‑2025 coverage notes a tight cluster at the top, with Bianco, Porter, Hilton, and sometimes other Democrats trading places within a narrow polling band.

If you’re voting, it’s worth checking the California Secretary of State’s official candidate list closer to the 2026 primary to see who actually made the ballot and who has dropped out.

TL;DR: As of late 2025, the most frequently cited candidates for California governor in 2026 include Democrats Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Stephen J. Cloobeck, and Ian Calderon; Republicans Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, and Leo Zacky; and Green candidate Butch Ware, with more minor and emerging candidates also in the mix and the field still evolving.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.