Who is running to replace Newsom in California governor race

California governor candidates line up as primary vote nears

Voting for California governor is scheduled to begin in about a month, with mail-in voting due to start in less than a month, as the Associated Press outlined ahead of the state’s top-two primary. Under that system, all candidates appear on one ballot and only the two highest vote-getters advance to November, regardless of party.

The filing landscape has been unsettled as the contest for the seat left by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s term-out after this year has broadened into what the AP described as a messy, wide-open race. The AP also reported that Democrats have been publicly weighing the possibility of being shut out in November, given concerns that a crowded field could split the party’s vote and allow two Republicans to advance.

In a snapshot of prominent candidates, the AP described a mix of political backgrounds and campaign profiles among both Republicans and Democrats, along with disputes that have included debate eligibility and identity politics. The candidates below reflect what the AP said they each bring to the contest heading into the primary.

On the Republican side, Chad Bianco is a county sheriff from Riverside County who was first elected in 2018 and has supported President Donald Trump and his policies, according to the AP. The AP said Bianco has more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience and that he recently seized more than half a million ballots from county election officials, saying he is investigating a ballot count discrepancy; the effort faces legal challenges, and the state Supreme Court ordered Bianco to pause it.

Steve Hilton is also listed as a Republican candidate by the AP. The AP said Hilton had a conservative show on Fox News for six years and also worked as an adviser to former British prime minister David Cameron. The AP reported that Trump called Hilton “a truly fine man” and endorsed him last week, and that the state party did not endorse a candidate at its convention over the weekend.

Among Democrats, Katie Porter is described by the AP as a former congressmember known for brandishing a whiteboard at hearings while grilling CEOs. The AP said she was first elected to Congress in 2018 after flipping a Republican-held seat in Orange County, and that she also made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 2024. The AP said Porter came under fire last year after she threatened to walk out of a TV interview following an awkward and tense back-and-forth with the reporter, and that she faced criticism for allegations of harsh treatment of staff; it also said she is one of only two prominent women in the race.

Tom Steyer is listed as a Democratic candidate as well. The AP described him as a billionaire hedge-fund manager who became a liberal activist and said Steyer is mostly bankrolling his campaign, after an unsuccessful presidential run in 2020. The AP said Steyer has faced increased questions about past investments in coal mining and private prisons that are now used as detention centers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The AP said Matt Mahan is the San Jose mayor who became a frequent critic of Newsom before joining the race in January, casting himself as a moderate Democrat. The AP reported that Mahan has quickly amassed millions of dollars in support from Silicon Valley and other business leaders, that he was first elected to the city council in 2020, and that he won the mayoral election in 2022; it noted this is his first time in elected office.

Betty Yee is another Democrat highlighted by the AP. The AP said Yee previously served as California’s controller and as vice chair of the state Democratic party, and that as state’s top financial officer she was responsible for disbursing state funds, auditing government agencies and serving on more than 70 boards and commissions. The AP said Yee has tried to position herself as a leading progressive but that her campaign has struggled to gain momentum since she announced her bid for governor more than two years ago.

The AP also described Xavier Becerra as a Democrat who served as former President Joe Biden’s top health official and oversaw the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The AP said Becerra also served as California’s attorney general during Trump’s first term and has more than two decades of experience in Congress. It said Becerra’s campaign has gained little traction despite his statewide office wins, and that his former chief of staff was indicted on federal corruption charges for a role in a scheme to steal campaign money from Becerra, adding that Becerra was not accused of wrongdoing.

Other Democrats mentioned by the AP include Antonio Villaraigosa, who was elected Los Angeles mayor in 2014 and served in the state Legislature, including as Assembly speaker. The AP said Villaraigosa unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018 against Newsom and failed to make the general election. The AP also listed Tony Thurmond, who has served as California’s top education official since 2019 and championed efforts to oppose a policy requiring school staff to notify parents if their child changes pronouns or gender identity.