Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement Wednesday that she won’t run for California governor subsequent 12 months has left the race vast open with out a clear frontrunner. For the previous eight years, Gavin Newsom has served as governor, and along with his second time period up, 2026 presents a chance for a recent face to guide the state.
There’s a big area working of Republicans and Democrats, which incorporates some well-known figures within the state, however many who voters are usually not conversant in.
Democrats:
Katie Porter
Porter is a former congresswoman from Orange County who served in Washington, D.C. from 2019 to 2025, leaving to run for Senate and shedding within the main to Adam Schiff. Porter has an extended profession as a regulation professor and is a tenured professor at UCI’s regulation faculty.
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa served as Los Angeles Mayor from 2005 to 2013. Villaraigosa additionally served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign and chair of the 2012 Democratic Nationwide Conference. Villaraigosa ran for governor again in 2018, the 12 months Newsom was elected.
Xavier Becerra
Becerra served because the Secretary of Well being and Human Providers below President Biden — the primary Latino in that position. Becerra additionally served as California Legal professional Common from 2017 to 2021, and earlier than that was in Congress.
Toni Atkins
Atkins is a longtime California consultant who served because the President Professional Tempore of the California State Senate from 2018 to 2024. Atkins additionally served because the speaker of the California State Meeting from 2014 to 2016.
Betty Yee
Yee served as California’s State Controller from 2015 to 2023 and was on the state board of equalization from 2004 to 2015.
Stephen Cloobeck
Cloobeck is an American businessman who based Diamond Resorts, a timeshare firm. Cloobeck has lengthy donated to Democratic causes. He additionally appeared on the TV present Undercover Boss.
Tony Thurmond
Thurmond is California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thurmond served within the state meeting from 2014 to 2018.
Republicans:
Chad Bianco
Bianco has served because the Riverside County Sheriff since 2019 and is a well known determine within the regulation enforcement neighborhood.
Steve Hilton
Hilton is a former Fox Information host and a vocal supporter of President Trump. Hilton nonetheless contributes to Fox Information. He’s British and have become a U.S. citizen in 2021.
Inexperienced Celebration:
Butch Ware
Ware is an affiliate professor and in addition a hip-hop artist. Ware was a vice presidential nominee for the Inexperienced Celebration in 2024.
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