California dreaming: who is running to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor?

A total of 150 candidates have submitted paperwork, but here are the early frontrunners for next year’s election

The race is on to succeed Gavin Newsom, the California governor with https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/26/gavin-newsom-2028-presidential-race">presidential ambitions whose term runs out next year – and it’s off to an unexpected and messy start.

On 13 April, the https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-swalwell-takes-lead-in-governor-primary-25-undecided-election-for-la-mayor-wide-open/">early frontrunner, congressman Eric Swalwell, suspended his bid for the role, following allegations of sexual misconduct.

With less than two months until election day, it’s unclear whether another Democrat will race to the top in reliably blue California.