The California governor race reached a dramatic turning point on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Voters across the state headed to the polls to decide who advances to the November general election. With a wide-open field and no clear frontrunner locked in, this primary became one of the most competitive in recent California history. Furthermore, the result could reshape the state’s political future for years to come.
Why This California Governor Race Is So Unusual
Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term. Therefore, for the first time in years, Californians face a truly open race with no sitting governor on the ballot. Wikipedia
Republicans have not won a statewide race in California since 2006. However, this cycle brought a rare opportunity for the GOP to change that record. Wikipedia
The fragmented Democratic field in this year’s top-two primary could potentially allow two Republicans to advance to the general election. Consequently, the California Democratic Party spent months trying to consolidate its vote. Wikipedia
How California’s Top-Two Primary System Works
Under California’s nonpartisan blanket primary, all candidates for the same office run against each other at once, regardless of party. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes then advance to the general election. Wikipedia
This system means a Republican and a Democrat could advance — or even two candidates from the same party.
The Three Candidates Who Led the Field
In the final polling average, Democrat Xavier Becerra led with 24% support. Republican Steve Hilton sat second at 22%, and Democrat Tom Steyer followed closely at 20%. 270toWin.com
Meanwhile, all three candidates stayed within striking distance of each other throughout the final weeks of the campaign. Therefore, the second qualifying spot remained genuinely up for grabs heading into Election Day.
Xavier Becerra — The Democratic Frontrunner
Becerra is a former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former California Attorney General. CalMatters
His support dramatically surged after former frontrunner Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race following allegations of sexual misconduct. Becerra climbed from just 5% in March to 25% in the final Berkeley IGS poll. NBC Los Angeles
Steve Hilton — Trump’s Republican Pick
Hilton is a former Fox News commentator. He received an April endorsement from Donald Trump, which helped him emerge as the clear Republican frontrunner. 270toWin.com
Hilton previously served as a senior adviser to conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron. Additionally, Trump’s backing largely erased fears that the Republican vote would split between Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. CalMatters
Tom Steyer — The Democratic Billionaire
Tom Steyer is a billionaire entrepreneur and former presidential candidate. CalMatters
Steyer invested heavily via his personal fortune throughout the campaign and moved solidly into the top three as Election Day approached. Nevertheless, he and Hilton fought almost neck-and-neck for the crucial second qualifying position. 270toWin.com
Other Notable Candidates in the Race
Additional candidates included San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. NewsNation
However, polling showed Porter at 7% and the remaining Democrats all below 5% in the final weeks. Therefore, none of the second-tier candidates appeared likely to break through and qualify for November. NBC Los Angeles
Democrats Feared a GOP Sweep of the Final Ballot
The California Democratic Party urged low-polling candidates to drop out to prevent two Republicans from advancing to the general election. Wikipedia
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks issued a clear warning, saying the polling results are a reminder that all candidates must honestly assess their viable path to win. aol
Moreover, a Republican-only general election would have given the GOP its most realistic path to reclaiming California’s governorship in two decades. As a result, Democrats felt strong pressure to unite behind a single frontrunner.
What the Key Issues Were in the Campaign
Candidates clashed on several major topics throughout the race. These were the top issues driving voter decisions:
- Housing affordability — virtually every candidate made it a centerpiece issue
- Public safety — Republicans pushed harder policing; some Democrats backed reform
- Climate policy — divisions emerged even within the Democratic field
- Homelessness — a persistent issue under Newsom that candidates promised to fix
- Federal funding cuts — candidates debated how to respond to cuts from Washington
Villaraigosa, one of the more moderate Democrats in the race, expressed skepticism about the state’s climate goals and called for using oil and gas as a transition fuel. In contrast, more progressive Democrats pushed stricter climate timelines. CalMatters
A Race With Many Twists Before Election Day
There were numerous twists and turns in the race to succeed Newsom. 270toWin.com
Big names in the Democratic Party, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, both passed on running for governor. That decision opened the door for a crowded and unpredictable field. CalMatters
Furthermore, Swalwell’s sudden exit reshuffled the entire Democratic race. Becerra quickly filled the vacuum that Swalwell left behind, surging from near the bottom of the polls to frontrunner status.
What Happens Next
California holds its general election on November 3, 2026. The two candidates who advance from Tuesday’s primary will face each other in that final contest. Ballotpedia
Vote-by-mail, provisional, and other ballots will continue to be processed and counted after Election Night. Results will be certified by July 10, 2026. CA
Therefore, while early returns may point to a leader on election night, the official certified result could take several weeks to finalize.
Conclusion
The California governor race delivered everything political watchers expected — drama, uncertainty, and a photo-finish between three competitive candidates. Becerra held a narrow polling lead going into Tuesday, but Hilton and Steyer remained close enough to flip the final standings. As vote counts roll in overnight and into the coming weeks, all eyes stay fixed on Sacramento. The two survivors of this bruising primary will now pivot immediately toward November’s winner-takes-all general election showdown.
