California Governor Election 2026
Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited. Rating: Solid D.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xavier Becerra | Democratic | Former U.S. health secretary |
| Steve Hilton | Republican | Former TV host |
No public polls recorded for this race.
Where the candidates stand
Xavier Becerra (D)
- Criticized ending Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants. (2025) source
Steve Hilton (R)
- Supports full cooperation with ICE. (2026) source
- Would end income tax under $100,000 and set a 7.5% flat tax above it. (2026) source
- Would repeal climate mandates that raise energy costs. (2026) source
- Would launch Education Savings Accounts and open enrollment. (2026) source
- Opposes state-funded health care for undocumented immigrants. (2026) source
Sources
- 2026 United States gubernatorial elections (Wikipedia)
- 2026 Gubernatorial Race Overview (Brownstein, Sept. 23, 2026)
- Latest governor polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report governor ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Amid Ad Uproar, Ohio Governor’s Race Moves From Toss Up to Lean Democrat (Cook Political Report, Oct. 23, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.