The 2026 California governor’s race is crowded, with at least 10 serious candidates from both major parties already in. The field is still fluid in early 2026, so new entrants or withdrawals are possible as the June primary gets closer.

Key names in the 2026 race

Most coverage and recent polling consistently spotlight a core group of better‑known contenders.

  • Eric Swalwell (D) – East Bay member of Congress positioning himself as a cost‑of‑living candidate promising a “new California” and explicitly vowing to stand up to the Trump administration.
  • Katie Porter (D) – Former Orange County congressmember known nationally for aggressive questioning in hearings, now running on affordability, corporate accountability, and consumer protection themes.
  • Tony Thurmond (D) – State superintendent of public instruction, early entrant running on education investment and working‑class issues.
  • Chad Bianco (R) – Riverside County sheriff who often polls at or near the top of the GOP side and has recently led some statewide polls in a tightly bunched field.
  • Steve Hilton (R) – Conservative commentator and former adviser to ex‑Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, appealing to right‑of‑center voters frustrated with Democratic dominance.

Recent polling late in 2025 showed Bianco, Hilton, Swalwell, and Porter clustered within a few points of each other, with a large share of voters still undecided.

Other declared candidates

Beyond the headline names, the official candidate list includes several lesser‑known figures from across the political spectrum.

  • Democrats appearing on candidate lists or in ballot‑access filings include Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, and others with prior statewide or big‑city experience.
  • Republican, independent, and minor‑party hopefuls such as Sharifah Hardie, Brandon Jones, Ethan Penner, Nicholas Thompson, and Butch Ware have also filed or are actively campaigning.
  • News coverage in January 2026 notes that at least 10 candidates remain after some early withdrawals, including businessman Stephen Cloobeck dropping out and endorsing Swalwell.

Because this is a top‑two primary, all candidates run on one ballot in June and only the top two vote‑getters, regardless of party, move on to November.

What polls and analysts say

Commentary from California political outlets emphasizes how open this race is compared with past cycles.

  • No single frontrunner has locked down the race; support is fragmented and name recognition remains a big hurdle outside each candidate’s regional base.
  • Analysts highlight the possibility that two Democrats, two Republicans, or a mixed D‑R matchup could emerge from the primary, depending on how votes split among ideologically similar contenders.
  • Coverage also stresses that voter priorities like housing costs, the economy, and immigration are driving how candidates frame their platforms in early debates and interviews.

Quick timeline and what’s next

The election calendar shapes how the field may still change in 2026.

  • Primary date: June 2, 2026, when all candidates appear on a single nonpartisan ballot.
  • General election: November 3, 2026, where only the top two primary finishers face off.
  • As of January 2026, more endorsements, fundraising reports, and debates are expected to clarify who actually breaks out of the pack.

If you’re following “who is running for California governor 2026,” the safest approach is to keep an eye on updated candidate lists from California election authorities and major state news outlets, since drop‑outs and late entries can still shift the lineup before June.

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