Party leaders fear the growing possibility that the crowded field will split the Democratic electorate in the state's June top-two primary election and result in two Republicans advancing to the November ballot, ensuring a Republican governor being elected for the first time since 2006.
There are nine Democrats running for governor with various degrees of seriousness. There are only two major Republican contenders, plus a third lagging practically out of sight. Remember, California has a top two open primary. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their party, advance to the November election. And only the top two.
The race for California governor has been a low-boil, late-developing affair, noteworthy mostly for its lack of a whole lot that has been noteworthy. That changed a bit on a sunny Saturday in San Francisco, the contest assuming a smidgen of campaign heat—chanting crowds, sign-waving supporters, call-and-response from the audience—as the state party held its annual convention in this bluest of cities.
Initial fundraising reports from the first week of Matt Mahan's gubernatorial campaign filed Tuesday reveal the depth of support for the moderate Democrat from Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists. Reports filed with the California Secretary of State show just 21 individuals contributed more than $1.6 million to Matt Mahan for Governor 2026 in the first two days of his campaign.
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Tim Cook Apple CEO oversees a record profit year and new stock price highs as iPhone17 sales propel the company past Samsung to take the largest share of the world's smartphone market for the first time since 2011. Stephen Cloobeck Beverly Hills Democrat and former timeshare company CEO sinks $13 million of his own money into a campaign for governor. Stuck below 1% in polls, he drops out and endorses Eric Swalwell.
He was 27 when he became the first millennial to be elected to the state Assembly in 2012. But he was no newcomer even then Calderon comes from a line of politicians from southeast Los Angeles County. His father, Charles Calderon, started the dynasty when he was elected to the Assembly in 1982. Two of his uncles also served in the Legislature and federal prison for corruption.
But they've certainly got Democratic operatives and consultants talking even as Padilla and his camp remain loudly mum on the possibility. The focus for California's senior senator, said Padilla spokesperson Edgar Rodriguez when asked about the gubernatorial rumors on Wednesday, remains on California's upcoming special election on redistricting. That's been the party line in the past few weeks, since the rumor mill really started churning, and what Padilla himself has said in recent interviews.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris' announcement Wednesday that she will not run for California governor next year has left the race wide open without a clear frontrunner. For the past eight years, Gavin Newsom has served as governor, and with his second term up, 2026 presents an opportunity for a fresh face to lead the state. There's a large field running of Republicans and Democrats, which includes some well-known figures in the state, but many who voters are not familiar with.
