2026 California gubernatorial election
The 2026 California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the Governor of California. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Controller Betty Yee have declared their candidacies. The field of candidates is expected to expand in the upcoming years. Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared
Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California (2019–present)
Jesse Perez, Secretary of Future Farmers of America (2023–present)
Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2019–present)
Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023)

Publicly expressed interest
Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California (2021–present)
Rick Caruso, real estate developer and runner-up for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022
Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018

Potential
Toni Atkins, President pro tempore of the California State Senate (2018–present) from the 39th district (2016–present)
Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (2022–present), former U.S. Representative from  (2011–2022), and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2008–2010)
Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator (2023–present)
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (2021–present) and former U.S. Senator for California (2017–2021)

Withdrew
Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present) (running for lieutenant governor)

Republican Party

Publicly expressed interest 
 Lanhee Chen, Stanford University professor and runner-up for California State Controller in 2022

Endorsements

References

External links
Official campaign websites
Eleni Kounalakis (D) for Governor
Tony Thurmond (D) for Governor

California gubernatorial elections
Gubernatorial
California