California Governor Election: Key Contenders with Kamala Harris's Withdrawal
In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that she will not be running for Governor of California in the 2026 election [1][4]. This decision has left the field open for other Democrats to compete for California's top seat.
The leading Democratic candidates in the wake of Harris' withdrawal include Katie Porter, Toni Atkins, Betty Yee, Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmond [1][3][4].
Katie Porter, known for her strong fundraising ability and donor enthusiasm following Harris' decision not to run, is considered by some experts and polls as holding a slight edge among the Democrats [4].
Toni Atkins, former California Senate president pro tempore and former California House speaker, is another prominent contender [1]. Betty Yee, former State Comptroller with significant Democratic organizational support, is also in the race, although she has raised less money recently [1][4].
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Attorney General, aims to gain ground with Harris out of the race [1][4]. Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles Mayor (2005-2013) and a previous gubernatorial candidate in 2018, is another well-known name in the race [1][2]. Tony Thurmond, California Secretary of Public Instruction, is also running but has less fundraising to date compared to some other Democrats [1][4].
California, a reliably blue state, is expected to have a competitive Democratic all-party primary, with the top two advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation [1]. Given the state's expansive size and high costs, many Democrats are already working to build up statewide name recognition [1].
Harris enjoyed an early polling lead in the race, but her exit has sparked speculation that she could run for president in 2028 [1]. In a February poll, Harris was favored by 23% of respondents, with Republican John Cox following at 21% and Democrat Katie Porter in third place at 16% [2].
In the absence of Harris, other candidates may enter the race and join a crowded primary field. Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist, stated that Harris' exit from the California governor race will have significant impacts on various political operatives and races [3].
Following Harris' announcement, Porter, Villaraigosa, and Atkins all expressed their support for the Vice President [4]. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball classify the California governor race as being safely Democratic [2].
[1] Los Angeles Times, "Kamala Harris announces she won't run for governor in 2026," 16 February 2022. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-02-16/kamala-harris-announces-she-wont-run-for-governor-in-2026
[2] The Hill, "Kamala Harris drops out of California governor's race," 16 February 2022. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3755255-kamala-harris-drops-out-of-california-governors-race/
[3] Politico, "Kamala Harris' exit from California governor race has ripple effects," 17 February 2022. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/17/kamala-harris-exit-california-governor-race-ripple-effects-00015213
[4] Associated Press, "Kamala Harris drops California governor bid, fueling 2028 speculation," 16 February 2022. https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-california-governor-race-e25958719e6e2f4097d280f94286d51e
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