California Governor Race: Candidates Vie for Top Spot
California’s 2026 gubernatorial election is shaping up to be a competitive race, with a diverse field of candidates vying to lead the nation’s most populous state. As of April 29, 2026, eight candidates are actively campaigning: Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa. The candidates recently participated in a debate at Pomona College on April 28, 2026, hosted by CBS LA .
The Candidates
- Xavier Becerra (Democrat): Former Health and Human Services Secretary.
- Chad Bianco (Republican): Riverside County Sheriff.
- Steve Hilton (Republican): Former Fox News commentator.
- Matt Mahan (Democrat): San Jose Mayor.
- Katie Porter (Democrat): Former Orange County Representative.
- Tom Steyer (Democrat): Billionaire hedge fund founder.
- Tony Thurmond (Democrat): California Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Antonio Villaraigosa (Democrat): Former Los Angeles Mayor.
Key Policy Positions
The candidates have outlined their positions on several key issues, as assessed by the ACLU of California Action.
Criminal Justice
- Crime Prevention vs. Increased Sentencing: Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa all agree with prioritizing crime prevention solutions over increasing sentences and classifying more low-level crimes as felonies. Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton do not share this view. Matt Mahan and Tom Steyer did not reply.
- Community-Based Programs: Becerra, Porter, Thurmond, and Villaraigosa have pledged to publicly advocate for greater investment in community-based programs and reject legislation that lengthens sentences or increases penalties. Bianco and Hilton disagree. Mahan and Steyer did not reply.
- Public Defender Funding: Becerra, Porter, Thurmond, and Villaraigosa support efforts to staff and fund public defender’s offices to ensure a Californian’s right to counsel and a fair trial, regardless of wealth. Bianco and Hilton disagree. Mahan and Steyer did not reply.
Police Practices
- Social Service Responses: Becerra, Porter, Thurmond, and Villaraigosa support shifting public safety responses to trained social service providers for incidents involving homelessness and mental health. Bianco, Hilton, Mahan, and Steyer did not reply.
- Law Enforcement Record Access: Becerra, Porter, and Thurmond support greater public access to law enforcement records and strong local civilian oversight of law enforcement practices. Villaraigosa, Bianco, Hilton, Mahan, and Steyer did not reply.
Recent Debate Highlights
During the debate at Pomona College, Tony Thurmond was highlighted by columnist Gustavo Arellano for effectively contrasting his personal story – as the child of a Panamanian immigrant – with the experiences of other candidates. Thurmond reportedly drew applause for questioning Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s handling of ballots.
Looking Ahead
With mail ballots set to head out, the candidates will continue to refine their messages and engage with voters across California. The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026, and will determine which candidates advance to the general election in November.