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Sixty-one candidates are running in the top-two primary for governor of California on June 2, 2026

By

Briana Ryan

Sixty-one candidates are running in the top-two primary for governor of California on June 2, 2026. Xavier Becerra (D), Matt Mahan (D), Katie Porter (D), Thomas Steyer (D), Eric Swalwell (D), Antonio Villaraigosa (D), Chad Bianco (R), and Steve Hilton (R) lead in polling and media attention. Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited.

There are 24 Democratic candidates, 12 Republican candidates, one Libertarian candidate, one Peace and Freedom candidate, and 23 no party preference candidates on the ballot. The top-two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliations.

CalMatters' Jeanne Kuang wrote, "With so many Democrats potentially splitting the vote and only two Republican front-runners — essentially tied in the polls — splitting the GOP vote, the chances of the Democrats being shut out are real." California began using a top-two primary to select nominees for the gubernatorial general election in 2014. None of the three preceding top-two primaries for governor of California resulted in two members of the same party advancing to the general election.

Below is a background on each candidate. To read more about how Ballotpedia defines noteworthy candidates, click here.

  • Becerra served as the 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. Becerra's priorities include addressing affordability, housing, and healthcare.
  • Mahan was first elected mayor of San Jose in 2022. He previously served on the San Jose City Council from 2021 to 2023. In 2014, Mahan founded Brigade, which, according to his campaign website, is "the world’s first voter network." Mahan's priorities include addressing affordability, homelessness, and education.
  • Porter served in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2025. She previously worked as a law professor and a consumer and bankruptcy attorney. Porter's priorities include addressing affordability, housing, and healthcare.
  • Steyer founded the hedge fund Farallon Capital Management in 1986 and managed it until 2012. In 2013, Steyer founded NextGen America, which, according to its official website, 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. Steyer's priorities include addressing affordability, education, and housing. 
  • 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. Swalwell's priorities include addressing affordability, housing, and "protect[ing] Californians from federal overreach."
  • 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. Villaraigosa's priorities include addressing affordability, public safety, and education.
  • 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. Bianco's priorities include addressing affordability, housing, and public safety.
  • 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. Hilton's priorities include addressing housing, affordability, and education. President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Hilton on April 6, 2026.

As of April 7, 2026, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rated the general election as Solid Democratic. Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Democratic.

Serge Fiankan (No party preference), Lewis Herms (No party preference), Matt Mahan (D), Daniel Mercuri (No party preference), Leo Naranjo IV (R), and Ramsey Robinson (Peace and Freedom Party) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.