Who’s Running for California Governor – And Why Every Californian Should be Paying Attention.

On June 2nd, Californians will choose a new governor for the first time in eight years. Our final individual decisions will have major impact not only on the general election in November, but for the coming years.

With 61 candidates on the ballot, a top-two primary system that could send two Republicans to the November general election in one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, and a Democratic field so divided that their own party leadership can’t agree on who to back — this is one of the most consequential and unpredictable races in California history.

And most Californians aren’t paying attention.

That must change today.

First, understand the rules.

California uses what’s called a “top-two” primary system. On June 2nd, all candidates from all parties appear on the same ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes — regardless of party — advance to the November general election.

That means two Republicans could advance and lock every Democrat out of the general election entirely. In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by millions, that outcome is not just possible — it’s being actively discussed by Democratic Party leaders who are watching their candidates split the vote in dangerous ways.

The June 2nd primary is not just a formality. It may be the most important vote Californians cast this year.

Who is actually running?

There are 61 candidates on the ballot. We’re going to focus on the eight who matter — the candidates with real funding, real polling support, and real shots at making the top two.

The Republicans:

• Steve Hilton — British-born former Fox News host and political adviser, endorsed by President Trump
• Chad Bianco — Riverside County Sheriff, self-described law and order candidate

The Democrats:

• Katie Porter — Former U.S. Representative from Orange County, consumer protection attorney
• Tom Steyer — Billionaire climate activist and entrepreneur
• Xavier Becerra — Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General
• Antonio Villaraigosa — Former Mayor of Los Angeles
• Matt Mahan — Current Mayor of San Jose  
• Tony Thurmond — Current State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Note: Eric Swalwell and Betty Yee both suspended their campaigns in April 2026, though their names may still appear on some ballots.

A snapshot of where the race stands.

The most recent polling shows a race with no clear frontrunner and everything still to play for:

• Steve Hilton (R) — 18.5%
• Tom Steyer (D) — 16%
• Chad Bianco (R) — 13%
• Xavier Becerra (D) — 10%
• Katie Porter (D) — 9%
• Matt Mahan (D) — 6%

Notice something? The two Republicans are sitting in first and third place. The Democratic vote is being split six ways. That is exactly the scenario that keeps California Democratic Party leaders up at night — and exactly why this primary matters so much.

Also worth noting: A CBS News/YouGov survey from April 23-27, 2026 found that the percentage of undecided voters outweighs any single candidate’s support — meaning this race is still completely wide open just weeks before the primary.

What makes each candidate tick?

Here is a brief, honest look at each major candidate — who they are, what they’re running on, and what questions they still need to answer.

Steve Hilton is leading the polls and has President Trump’s full endorsement. A former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, he moved to California in 2012 and became a Fox News host. His campaign focuses on what he calls Democrat one-party rule, arguing California has the highest costs and worst business climate in America. He has never held elected office in the United States.

Chad Bianco is the Riverside County Sheriff who built his campaign on a tough-on-crime platform. He refused to enforce COVID mandates, seized over 600,000 ballots in a controversial election integrity investigation that was later scrutinized by the California Supreme Court, and was previously a member of the Oath Keepers militia organization. Despite running as California’s law and order candidate, his department ranks last among all 57 California sheriffs in solving crimes.

Katie Porter is the former Orange County congresswoman known for grilling corporate executives at a whiteboard. She is the only major candidate in the race refusing all corporate PAC money, has over $3.7 million cash on hand, and has earned endorsements from the Teamsters, United Auto Workers, Senator Elizabeth Warren and EMILYs List. She supports single-payer healthcare and making state universities tuition-free.

Tom Steyer is the billionaire who has spent over $133 million of his own money on this race — the second largest campaign spend in California history. A former hedge fund manager turned climate activist, he is running on lowering costs, free education and single-payer healthcare. Questions have been raised about past investments in coal mining and private prisons now used as ICE detention centers.

Xavier Becerra is the former California Attorney General who served as Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary. He negotiated lower drug prices for seniors under Medicare and sued the first Trump administration 123 times. His campaign has struggled financially — spending four times what it raised and ending with just $507,000 on hand entering the final stretch.

Antonio Villaraigosa is the former Los Angeles Mayor running as the most moderate Democrat in the field. He is skeptical of California’s aggressive climate goals and believes in using oil and gas as a transition fuel. He unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018 against Newsom and has received significant donations from Chevron.

Matt Mahan is the San Jose Mayor casting himself as the pragmatic outsider willing to challenge his own party. He has reduced San Jose’s homeless population by a third and backed Proposition 36 against his own party’s opposition – a measure passed by California voters in November 2024 with 68% approval that toughened penalties for theft and drug offenses, which Newsom and most Democrats opposed. His campaign is funded by a who’s-who of Silicon Valley billionaires including Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Tony Thurmond is the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the most progressive candidate in the Democratic field. He supports a billionaire wealth tax, single-payer healthcare, and abolishing ICE. He has raised just $62,000 in the most recent reporting period and is polling at 2%.

The bottom line on this race.

Eight years ago, Gavin Newsom promised Californians universal healthcare, an end to homelessness and a state that works for everyone — not just those at the top. Those promises went largely unfulfilled. Now every candidate on this stage is making similar promises with little to no detail on how they plan to accomplish them.

The question UnsilencedTruth.com will be asking in every post in this series is simple: Can we believe them? And who is actually pulling their strings?

Coming Next: Follow the Money

In our next post we’re going to follow the money — because in politics, who funds a candidate tells you far more about what they’ll actually do in office than any campaign promise ever will.

What we found will surprise you — and in some cases, shock you.

A billionaire who made millions investing in private prisons now used as ICE detention centers — running as a progressive champion of the people.

Two Democrats who claim to fight Big Oil — quietly taking Chevron’s money.

A Silicon Valley-backed candidate funded by the very tech giants whose data centers are driving up your electricity and water bills.

And one candidate who has refused every dollar of corporate money — while somehow staying competitive.

Who can you actually trust? Follow the money with us and decide for yourself.

— UnsilencedTruth.com