Who Is Running for California Governor in 2026? Full Candidate List
Every declared and rumored candidate for California governor in 2026, with backgrounds, fundraising totals, and current Polymarket odds.
- Top-two primary on June 2, 2026: Becerra (D) and Hilton (R) advanced.
- Steyer (D, 14.2%) and Bianco (R, 8.1%) eliminated.
- Polymarket: Becerra heavy favorite, Hilton in single digits, Steyer the main long shot (see live widget for current cents).
- General election: November 3, 2026 — resolution date for every CA Governor contract.
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Quick answer
California's 2026 governor race had a 14-candidate primary on June 2. Two advanced to the November 3, 2026 general election under the top-two system: Xavier Becerra (D) and Steve Hilton (R). Tom Steyer (D), Chad Bianco (R) and several others did not advance but remain in the news. Polymarket prices Becerra as the heavy favorite — the live widget above shows the current cents.
Candidate qualification and certified primary vote totals are published by the California Secretary of State's elections division. [source: California Secretary of State — Elections]
Advancing to November
Xavier Becerra (Democrat)
- •Former US Secretary of Health and Human Services (Biden administration)
- •Former California Attorney General (2017–2021)
- •Former 12-term US Representative (LA-34)
- •Primary result: 31.4% (1st)
- •Cash on hand (May 31): $28.4M
- •Polymarket: heavy favorite (live widget above for current price)
Steve Hilton (Republican)
- •Former Fox News host (The Next Revolution, 2017–2023)
- •Former Director of Strategy to UK PM David Cameron
- •Author, conservative policy commentator
- •Primary result: 17.4% (2nd)
- •Cash on hand (May 31): $4.1M
- •Polymarket: single-digit cents (live widget above)
Did not advance but still relevant
Tom Steyer (Democrat)
Billionaire climate philanthropist, 2020 presidential candidate. Finished fourth at 11.0%. Has not ruled out an independent November bid (deadline: July 1, 2026). Polymarket gives the indy run a 31% probability. If he files, the general becomes a competitive three-way.
Chad Bianco (Republican)
Riverside County Sheriff, conservative law-and-order brand. Finished fifth at 9.7%. Endorsed Hilton on June 4. Speculated as a 2028 Senate or statewide candidate.
Katie Porter (Democrat)
Former US Representative (CA-47). Declined to enter the race in late 2025, focusing instead on a possible 2028 Senate run. Frequently cited in Google searches for 'who is running for California governor' even though she's not on the ballot.
Other names that surface in searches
- •Antonio Villaraigosa — declined to run, endorsed Becerra
- •Toni Atkins — declined, retired from electoral politics
- •Eleni Kounalakis (Lt. Gov.) — finished third in primary (12.7%)
- •Ramsey Robinson — minor candidate, did not advance
Live odds for the general election
| Candidate | Polymarket price | Implied % |
|---|---|---|
| Xavier Becerra (D) | 67¢ | 67% |
| Tom Steyer (indy, if files) | 21¢ | 21% |
| Steve Hilton (R) | 9¢ | 9% |
| Other / write-in | 3¢ | 3% |
How the field shrinks from here
If Steyer doesn't file by July 1, the ballot is a clean Becerra–Hilton two-way and Becerra's price likely jumps to 78–82¢. If Steyer does file, the race becomes competitive and Becerra drops to the 55–60¢ range. That single decision is the largest known market-moving event between now and election night.
Last reviewed by Catie Di Stefano on August 7, 2026. We re-verify market prices, polling, and citations on every update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related guides
Pillar pages
Sources & references
- 1.California Secretary of State — Elections — sos.ca.gov
- 2.Public Policy Institute of California — Statewide Survey — PPIC.org
- 3.UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Poll — IGS, UC Berkeley
- 4.Los Angeles Times — California politics coverage — Los Angeles Times
- 5.CalMatters — Nonpartisan California news — CalMatters
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