Rumors circulate that Sen. Alex Padilla may run for California governor in 2026, prompting attention among Democratic operatives and consultants even as Padilla remains publicly silent. A spokesperson said Padilla's current focus is on California's upcoming special election on redistricting. No confirmation or firm denial has been offered. A clear frontrunner has not emerged after Kamala Harris said she would not run, and experts say Padilla's political resume, visibility and temperament would make him a formidable, field-clearing candidate. Padilla was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2020 and won a full six-year term in 2022, becoming the first Latino to hold a full-term U.S. Senate seat from California.
But they've certainly got Democratic operatives and consultants talking even as Padilla and his camp remain loudly mum on the possibility. The focus for California's senior senator, said Padilla spokesperson Edgar Rodriguez when asked about the gubernatorial rumors on Wednesday, remains on California's upcoming special election on redistricting. That's been the party line in the past few weeks, since the rumor mill really started churning, and what Padilla himself has said in recent interviews.
That's not a confirmation of a 2026 candidacy but it's certainly not a firm no either. That's part because a strong, clear frontrunner has yet to emerge in the governor's race, particularly since former Vice President Kamala Harris said she would not run for governor. And that's also part because of Padilla's political resume and temperament, experts said. Padilla would be a formidable candidate.
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