The race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out after this year, is ramping up with voters able to cast ballots soon.
The stunning collapse of Eric Swalwell’s campaign has upended the wide-open contest where no Democratic candidate has emerged as a clear frontrunner and mail-in voting is scheduled to start in May.
California has an unpredictable top-two primary system that puts all candidates on one ballot, with only the top two vote-getters advancing to November, regardless of party. Despite their party’s dominance in the state, Democrats fear their crowded pool of candidates will divide the party’s vote and allow two Republicans to advance.
Here’s a look at the prominent candidates:
RIVERSIDE, CA – FEBRUARY 17, 2025: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco mingles through the crowd after announcing his bid for governor at Avila’s Historic 1929 Event Center on February 17, 2025 in Riverside, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Chad Bianco, Republican
A Republican county sheriff who was first elected in Riverside County in 2018, Bianco is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and his policies. He has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement.
He recently seized more than half a million ballots cast in a November special election from county election officials, saying he’s investigating a ballot count discrepancy. The effort faces several legal challenges, and the state Supreme Court ordered Bianco to pause it.
Huntington Beach, CA – April 22: Conservative commentator and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Hilton announces his campaign for California governor at the Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Steve Hilton, Republican
Hilton was a conservative commentator with a show on Fox News for six years. He also worked as an adviser to former British prime minister David Cameron.
Trump called him “a truly fine man” and endorsed him last week. The state party declined to endorse a candidate at its convention over the weekend.
Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesDrew Angerer/Getty Images
Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) speaks during a small rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court calling for ethics reform on the High Court on June 22, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Katie Porter, Democrat
Porter is a former congressmember known for brandishing a whiteboard at congressional hearings while grilling CEOs. She was first elected to Congress in 2018 after flipping a Republican-held seat in Orange County. She also made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Porter came under fire last year after she threatened to walk out of a TV interview after an awkward and tense back-and-forth with the reporter. She’s also faced criticism for allegations of harsh treatment of staff.
She’s one of only two prominent women in the running. California has never elected a woman to be governor.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks at a news conference outside a gas station showing gas prices above \$8 per gallon amid the war in Iran on April 9, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Steyer held the press conference to discuss “gas prices hitting record highs in California as a result of Trump’s war in Iran.” (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Tom Steyer, Democrat
A billionaire hedge-fund manager who turned into a liberal activist, Steyer is mostly bankrolling his run for governor. The progressive candidate ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020.
Recently, Steyer has faced an uptick of questions about his past investments in coal mining and private prisons — now used as detention centers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 20: Mayor of San Jose, Matt Mahan, speaks during the NWSL Championship Welcome Reception at Rotunda at San Jose City Hall on November 20, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/NWSL via Getty Images)
Matt Mahan, Democrat
Mahan is the San Jose mayor who became a frequent critic of Newsom before jumping in the race in January. He casts himself as a moderate Democrat and has quickly amassed millions of dollars in support from Silicon Valley and other business leaders.
Mahan was first elected as a city councilmember in 2020 and won the mayoral election in 2022. It’s his first time in elected office.
Former California State Controller Betty Yee attends the SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)’s Gubernatorial Candidate Worker Forum at Meruelo Studios in Los Angeles, California, on January 10, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)
Betty Yee, Democrat
Yee previously served as the state’s controller and as the vice chair of the state Democratic party. As the state’s top financial officer, she was responsible for disbursing state funds, auditing government agencies and serving on more than 70 boards and commissions.
Yee has tried to position herself as a leading progressive, but her campaign has struggled to gain momentum since she announced her bid for governor more than two years ago.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 20: Xavier Becerra speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on November 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. Becerra was giving testimony regarding oversight at HHS’s Refugee Resettlement Office. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Xavier Becerra, Democrat
Becerra served as former President Joe Biden’s top health official and oversaw the response to the coronavirus pandemic. He was also the California’s attorney general during Trump’s first term and has more than two decades of experience as a congressmember.
Despite previously winning statewide office, his campaign has gained little traction. His former chief of staff last year was indicted on federal corruption charges for his role in a scheme to steal campaign money from Becerra. Becerra was not accused of any wrongdoings.
Former Speaker of the California State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa attends the SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)’s Gubernatorial Candidate Worker Forum at Meruelo Studios in Los Angeles, California, on January 10, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)
Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat
Villaraigosa was elected in 2014 as Los Angeles mayor, making him the first Latino politician in that role in more than a century. He also served in the state Legislature, including as the Assembly speaker.
Villaraigosa unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018 against Newsom and failed to make the general election.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 17: Gubernatorial candidate Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at the California Governor Candidate Forum presented by Empowerment Congress at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Tony Thurmond, Democrat
Thurmond has served as the state’s top education official since 2019. He championed efforts to oppose a policy to require school staff to notify parents if their child changes their pronouns or gender identity. He also served in the state Legislature.