With less than 100 days until the primary elections, is there a clear front-runner in the race for California governor?

There doesn’t appear to be one, according to the latest polling out of California.

Public Policy Institute of California’s survey, published in late February, found that half of the state’s registered voters said they weren’t closely following the race.

At the same time, 7 in 10 are interested in attending town halls and watching the primary debates.

A handful of candidates are in close competition to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is termed out from running again in 2026.

Former TV show host Steve Hilton, a Republican

Former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican

Billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democrat

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat

All these candidates say they are focused on bringing back affordability to the state and reviving the California dream.

Here’s what we know about the top five candidates running for California governor.

Steve Hilton

The poll shows that 14% of likely voters support Hilton, a former Fox News host. He served as an adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, a conservative, from 2010 until 2012.

He released a book, “Califailure: Reversing the Ruin of America’s Worst-Run State,” in 2025, ahead of his campaign launch in April. In it, he critiques California’s Democratic leadership, arguing they are the cause of the high cost of living and taxes.

Former Rep. Katie Porter

Porter is one of the leading Democratic candidates, with 13% support, as per the survey. She announced her candidacy nearly a year ago through a three-minute video that featured her signature whiteboard.

She ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 but lost to Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff. This led her to return to teaching at UC Irvine School of Law. She described the affordability crisis as “a touchstone issue” in the race.

Porter faces reputational issues over on-and-off camera troubles.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco

Bianco served as a law enforcement officer before becoming the sheriff of Riverside County in 2018.

He gained 12% support in the PPIC poll. Bianco, a Republican, is focused on restoring the California dream. That means eliminating state income tax and gas tax, stopping overregulation and supporting California’s tech sector, according to his campaign website.

Entrepreneur and environmentalist Tom Steyer

Steyer, a Democrat who has positioned himself as a political outsider with a business acumen, is self-funding his run. He has 10% support, according to the latest poll.

Steyer has promised to fight to lower electricity bills by 25%, build 1 million new homes, and advocate for a higher corporate tax.

Rep. Eric Swalwell

As a Bay Area House member, he is known for serving as a prosecutor during President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial after the attack on the Capitol in 2021.

With 11% support, Swalwell is also known for using Snapchat and Facebook Live to engage with voters. It’s worth noting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed him from the House Intelligence Committee over Swalwell’s ties with Christine Fang, an alleged Chinese spy. At the heart of his resume is the consistent fight he has put up against the Trump administration.

Aside from echoing promises of lowering costs in California, he is also an advocate for gun control and public safety.