The California Governor Election 2026 is one of the nation’s most closely watch races. 23The election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of California. The statewide top-two primary was hold on June 2, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Gavin Newsom is ineligible to seek re-election to a third term.
The Candidates
The field has narrow to a marquee matchup. 24Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are running for California governor in the November 2026 election. 23There were 61 candidates on the ballot in the crowded primary before the field consolidated.
Who Is Xavier Becerra?
The Democratic front-runner brings a long résumé. 24Becerra represent Los Angeles in Congress for more than two decades before being appoint California’s attorney general in 2017. He led the state’s numerous lawsuits against the first Trump administration and Republican states. 29He serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden — the first Latino in that role.
Why the Stakes Are So High
The office carries national weight. 24The California governor is the most powerful elect official in the nation’s most populous state, commanding a $300 billion budget, shaping policy for 39 million residents, signing or vetoing legislation, and appointing judges. California’s governor wields outsized national influence, making the office a launching pad for presidential ambitions.
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