Election 2026 California Governor

Katie Porter waits for her turn to speak during a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco, Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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California governor's primary pitted experience against promises of change

California governor's primary pitted experience against promises of change

Two Democrats and a Republican are leading in early returns in California’s crowded primary in the race to replace Gov. Gavin newsom. They are Democrats Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist; and Republican conservative commentator Steve Hilton. All have sought to convince voters that they are best prepared to lead the most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies. The campaign has tested voters’ appetites for an experienced politician or candidates promising change. A main theme was lowering the cost of living in the state.