#california-governor-2026

#california-governor-2026

Back during the leadup to this month's Prop 50 redistricting vote, no one asked SF billionaire and failed 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer to put out these self-glorifying ads promoting the measure. Team Gavin Newsom was reportedly furious with Steyer for butting in with the ad seen below, as it seemed like Steyer was just trying to take credit for the inevitable landslide Prop 50 victory, or trying to raise his own profile for some self-serving reason.

They pledged to take on President Trump, make the state more affordable, safeguard immigrants and provide them with Medi-Cal healthcare benefits, and keep the state's over-budget bullet train project intact. There is not yet any clear front-runner in the race to run the nation's most populous state, though former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter has had a small edge in recent polling. Aside from a opaque dig from former state Controller Betty Yee, Porter was not attacked during the debate.

For many months, California Attorney General Rob Bonta laid low in the 2026 run for California governor. He did this by insisting he would run for re-election if Kamala Harris opted to make the run for governor, which was the general expectation for her until July 30, when she stunned the political world by opting out of the campaign. Bonta has no need for to lay low any longer, unless he sincerely doesn't want the job.