California's Governor's Race Remains Wide Open. Here's What to Know Before the Primary | KQED

"In most states, Republicans face off in a primary and Democrats face off [in a primary]. The winner of each face each other in the fall. But in California, it could be anybody in the race. And so we have seen that really set up the system where all these Democrats are splitting the vote."

"We also have Matt Mahan, the mayor of San José, who's running. He got into this race somewhat late. He's trying to run as a centrist Democrat, trying to maybe have some crossover appeal to independence and even Republicans. Antonio Villaraigosa who was mayor of Los Angeles over a decade ago, is more of a centrist candidate as well."

"Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, has held statewide office, but has kind of struggled to break through at all in this race. On the Republican side Both of them call the one-party rule for the last decade a failure. They say that Democrats own all of the problems in this state - the affordability crisis, the housing crisis, the homelessness crisis - and that they would be a new chapter."

"Bianco is a Riverside County sheriff. He's definitely further to the right than Hilton. Bianco made some waves earlier this year when he seized tens of thousands of ballots from last November's election, kind of echoing some"

Ballots are arriving by mail across California as the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom moves into its final stretch. Five Democrats and two Republicans compete in an open field ahead of the June 2, 2026 primary. Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose, runs as a centrist Democrat seeking crossover appeal to independents and some Republicans. Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor, also positions as centrist. Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction, has held statewide office but has struggled to gain traction. California’s primary system allows any candidate to face any other, encouraging Democrats to split the vote. On the Republican side, candidates criticize Democratic one-party rule and blame Democrats for affordability, housing, and homelessness problems, while promising change. One Republican, Bianco, is described as further to the right and previously seized tens of thousands of ballots from last November’s election.

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