Cal State Monterey Bay students, like many California voters, may not yet have tuned in to this year’s gubernatorial election. Yet with just twelve weeks until the primary begins, failing to get involved sooner rather than later could force the deep-blue state to choose between two Republican candidates in November.
An important, little-known fact about California’s gubernatorial elections: the state employs what is known as a “jungle primary” system. That means that rather than nominate one Democratic and one Republican candidate to face off in November’s general election, the primary identifies the two candidates of any party who receive the most total votes. Polls indicate two Republicans, Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, dominating the current landscape and consistently beating out nearly every Democratic candidate. How is such a thing possible in a state where only about 25% of voters are Republican, and 45% are Democratic?
The answer lies in a sharply divided Democratic field. About five candidates currently seem to have a fighting chance; all of them are vying for left-leaning voters who seem aligned on most key issues. Two steps will help Democrats avoid the worst-case scenario in November: choosing a candidate to support as soon as possible, and keeping an eye on the polls in case the primary necessitates a last-minute pivot. That said, those looking for details to help inform their decision will find a brief overview of leading candidates below, including ages and party affiliations for each.
Chad Bianco (R, 59)
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The Riverside County sheriff has taken the top spot on every 2026 poll so far. Cowboy hats and anti-establishment politics have conjured an “Old West” image that seems to endear him to conservative Californians disillusioned with the state’s Democratic leadership. A staunch supporter of President Trump, his tough-on-crime platform focuses on homelessness and eliminating California’s immigration protections, including sanctuary city policies.
Katie Porter (D, 52)
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Initially the Democratic frontrunner, Porter’s standing in the polls took a dive in October, after an interview where she refused to answer a question about how she would appeal to Republican voters. Alongside a resurfaced 2021 clip where she snaps at a staff member to “get out of [her] f*cking shot,” this raised concerns about her temperament and fitness for office. Setting aside the possible gendered double standards of those concerns, the former U.S. Representative and self-styled minivan mom is a pro-union candidate who has been critical of corporations and gained national renown for wielding a whiteboard to lambast executives at congressional hearings.
Eric Swalwell (D, 45)
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Considered a more moderate Democratic candidate, Swalwell has capitalized on Porter’s fall from grace and has become a leading contender. The former lawyer currently serves as the U.S. Representative for California’s 14th district, and his main appeal to Democratic voters seems to be anti-Trump animus; he was a congressional leader of Trump’s 2021 impeachment and has been a vocal critic of his second administration. With a history of positions on various House committees and a notable endorsement from California senator Adam Schiff, many see him as the Democratic establishment favorite.
Tom Steyer (D, 68)
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Advocating for affordability and higher taxes on billionaires led the San Francisco Chronicle to dub Steyer, a billionaire himself, “the ultimate unicorn.” His story is an unusual one: After amassing his fortune as a hedge fund manager, Steyer, then 54, had an apparent crisis of conscience in 2012. He quit his job at Farallon Capital, divested from coal and other carbon pollutants and began a career of robust environmentalism and political advocacy. Now, as a gubernatorial candidate, he continues to trail Swalwell and Porter in the polls — yet Steyer’s particularly vocal backing of progressive policies seems to threaten his competitors, who often attack him for his wealth.
Steve Hilton (R, 56)
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Hilton is perhaps best known for his work with Fox News, where he hosted the weekly right-wing commentary show “The Next Revolution.” Before that, the British-born media personality served as an advisor for former prime minister David Cameron. He blames what he calls “staggering incompetence” from Democrats for the biggest issues facing California, and takes a pro-business stance on issues like housing and the environment.
Xavier Becerra (D, 68)
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An attorney and former U.S. secretary of health and human services under the Biden administration, Becerra was the first Latino in the position now held by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His campaign, like Porter’s, seemed promising initially but was rocked by controversy; in November, a scandal erupted when staff for both Becerra and Gavin Newsom were discovered to have stolen about $225,000 from a dormant account that Becerra owned. While not personally accused of wrongdoing, the incident raised questions about how such a thing could have occurred without his knowledge.
Matt Mahan (D, 43)
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The San Jose mayor and tech entrepreneur is the most recent addition to the gubernatorial race, which may be contributing to the limited success his campaign has found so far. Mahan has joined other Democratic candidates in advocating for affordability, but also criticizes Newsom and the other candidates’ focus on speaking out against Trump. His pro-business leanings are unsurprising given his Silicon Valley background, which earned him support from tech CEOs but has failed to impress progressives – including elected officials from his own city, many of whom have instead endorsed Steyer for governor.