Sixty-one candidates are running to be California’s next governor.
Only two will advance to the November general election after Tuesday’s primary election – regardless of political party affiliation. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was first elected to the role in 2018, has reached his term limit, meaning there is no incumbent in the crowded primary field.
The governor is the most powerful elected official in California, charged with overseeing a budget of about $300 billion, leading the state government and signing or vetoing bills.
The primary’s front-runners include former United States Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, political commentator Steve Hilton and hedge fund founder Tom Steyer.
Becerra, a Democrat who has also served as the state’s attorney general, has been endorsed by organizations including the California College Democrats and the California Faculty Association. Political action committees, known as PACs, have spent $13 million boosting Becerra, including through expenditures by Chevron, HealthNet and Meta. He has received $1.7 million from small donors.
Becerra plans to push back against the Trump administration by protecting immigrants, building more affordable housing and strengthening the state’s healthcare system, according to his campaign website. He did not respond to a request for comment.
Hilton, a Republican who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, has received $13.6 million in direct contributions – including $2.8 million from small donors.
Hilton’s main priorities include reducing taxes, increasing residents’ abilities to own single-family homes and increasing students’ math and English proficiency rates, according to his campaign website. He did not respond to a request for comment.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents more than 40,000 UC service, patient care and skilled craft workers, and University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119, which represents more than 26,000 researchers and IT workers, have both endorsed Steyer. Steyer, a Democrat and billionaire, has largely self-funded his campaign – and it has quickly become the most expensive primary campaign in state history, currently totaling $213 million, according to CalMatters.
Steyer wants to raise taxes on billionaires and corporations, create affordable housing and fight against climate change, according to his campaign website.
Steyer said in a speech at a Sunday rally in downtown Los Angeles that he understands some people might be hesitant to vote for a billionaire.
“I wasn’t born a billionaire, I won’t die a billionaire and I’ll never govern for the billionaires,” he said. “As governor, I will raise taxes on billionaires, myself included.”
Steyer said in the speech that many Californians have told him that they have lost faith in the government, adding that he hopes to restore trust if elected.
Bailey Swain, the president of the Black Los Angeles Young Democrats, said an important issue for her is the UC divesting from weapons manufacturing and that Steyer is the only candidate who has expressed support for the cause. Swain, a UCLA alumnus, added that Steyer’s platform supporting single-payer healthcare is important to her.
Rosalba Montoya, a UCLA Health employee and board member of AFSCME Local 3299, said she supports Steyer because of his platforms in support of affordable housing and healthcare, as well as meal support for children. She added that she believes Steyer should support workers’ needs by standing in solidarity with the union.
“We’re hoping that he supports us with the healthcare, housing, so that we can continue on and not choosing our health or cutting gas based on how much they’re paying us,” she said.
Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose and a Democrat running for governor, said his primary goals are to address housing affordability, homelessness and mental health and addiction-related issues. Crime rates in San Jose have dropped by about 20% and the city has been ranked as the safest major city in the U.S. under his leadership, he added.
“I want to make sure that every community, every family, every young person in our state has access to high-quality education and housing they can afford, a fulfilling career, safe neighborhood,” he said. “These are the things I’ve been delivering on in San Jose and know that we so desperately need statewide.”
Mahan said he believes the Trump administration has targeted California, adding that he plans to use the courts to defend the state’s funding.
The Trump administration announced mid-May that it was freezing more than $1 billion of California’s Medicaid funding over fraud concerns.
Mahan, who is 43 and the youngest candidate in the race, said he believes his age sets him apart from his fellow candidates. He added that he believes his background has allowed him to better understand young voters’ main concerns.
“It’s time for a generational change in California, and I’m unique as the youngest candidate in the race and someone who has used technology to make government more effective and efficient,” he said.
Other notable candidates, including former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Democrat LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, did not respond to requests for comment.
Adam Peddie, the external vice president of Bruin Democrats, said the club’s members voted to endorse Steyer. He added that many members believe Steyer has the most progressive policy platform in the race – from green energy-focused investments to building more housing options.
Peddie said he believes Steyer’s self-funding will make him more likely to combat oil and gas corporations.
The next governor should fight against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as funding cuts and lawsuits against UCLA, Peddie said.
Earlier in the election cycle, Peddie said he was worried there would be two Republicans on the November ballot, as Hilton and Bianco were previously leading in the polls. However, because the candidate field has been rearranged by some dropping out, he said he is optimistic that there will be at least one Democrat on the ballot.
“The two front-runners in the race are Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra, and I think that most Democrats in the state would be very confident with either of them as our governor,” Peddie said.
Los Angeles residents can vote in person May 30 to June 2 in Pauley Pavilion, De Neve Plaza, the Hammer Museum and the Ackerman Union Bruin Reception Room, among other locations across the county. Voters can also submit a vote-by-mail ballot as long as it is postmarked by Election Day.
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