Chaotic California governor contest after Harris' withdrawal unveils no clear frontrunner
With former Vice President Kamala Harris announcing she will not run for governor of California in 2026, the race for the top Democratic nomination is now wide open [1][2][5]. The field is filled with several prominent contenders, but no clear frontrunner has emerged at this time.
Top Democratic contenders include:
- Katie Porter, former U.S. Representative and law professor, who is seen as having a small edge in fundraising and poll support among the remaining candidates. Porter has emphasized economic opportunity reforms and has momentum from her post-Harris announcement fundraising surge [3][5].
- Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who has served seven years under Governor Newsom and was previously U.S. Ambassador to Hungary. Kounalakis has strong financial backing, including family resources [1][2][3].
- Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who ran for governor in 2018 and has a long-standing presence in California Democratic politics [1][3].
- Xavier Becerra, current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former California Attorney General, is also considered a serious candidate, leveraging his experience in state and federal government [1][5].
Other notable candidates include Secretary of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Comptroller Betty Yee, and Toni Atkins, former California Senate president pro tempore [1].
California’s top-two primary system means that party affiliation matters less than finishing in the top two votes. Given California’s Democratic lean, the winner of the Democratic primary will likely become governor, with Republican candidates facing an uphill battle [1][2].
In terms of fundraising, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter appears to have a small lead over other candidates, having raised $2.5 million and spending $449,000 since launching her campaign in March. She said she has $2.1 million in the bank [2]. Xavier Becerra had $2.1 million in the bank after raising $2.5 million and spending $449,000 in the first six months of the year [2].
However, the race for California governor remains wide open, as there is no obvious front-runner without Harris in the race. With such a wide-open field, there is potential for candidates to come out of nowhere and gain unexpected support [4].
Some political observers believe that factors such as endorsements and communication strategies will be important to watch in the race [6]. Endorsements from influential figures, such as Nancy Pelosi, could potentially sway donors and voters [1].
Money will be crucial for candidates to broaden their appeal and increase their name recognition. Many of the candidates do not have enough money to invest in social media, television advertising, and other platforms to build up their name ID [7]. Businessman Stephen J. Cloobeck, a Los Angeles Democrat, raised about $160,000 and spent $1.5 million - including more than $1 million on consultants. He had about $729,000 on hand at the end of the period [7].
Rick Caruso, a Los Angeles developer, could potentially enter the race and be a force due to his prominence in Southern California and his financial resources [8]. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco reported raising $1.6 million and spending $609,000 this year, leaving him with $1 million in the bank [9].
None of the candidates in the remaining field have enough money in the bank to run a statewide campaign for governor, except for Kounalakis if she receives another major infusion of cash [7]. None of the remaining candidates for governor have the same profile as Harris, and are broadly unknown to large portions of the electorate [1].
In conclusion, the leading contenders now include Katie Porter, Eleni Kounalakis, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Xavier Becerra, with the race expected to remain competitive and fluid through 2026 [1][2][3][5].
[1] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-13/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out [2] https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2022/07/13/kamala-harris-drops-out-of-california-governors-race-1013536 [3] https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article262597778.html [4] https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2022/07/13/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out-00080761 [5] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-14/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out-leaves-field-wide-open [6] https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2022/07/13/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out-00080761 [7] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-14/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out-leaves-field-wide-open [8] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-13/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out [9] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-14/california-governors-race-kamala-harris-drops-out-leaves-field-wide-open
- The race for the Democratic nomination for governor of California in 2026 has opened up following Kamala Harris's decision not to run, with Katie Porter, Eleni Kounalakis, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Xavier Becerra standing out as the leading contenders.
- Katie Porter, a former U.S. Representative and law professor, may have a slight edge in fundraising and poll support among the remaining candidates, having raised $2.5 million and having $2.1 million in the bank.
- Eleni Kounalakis, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, has strong financial backing, including family resources, but is currently trailing in fundraising compared to Porter.
- The race for governor remains competitive and fluid, with potential for lesser-known candidates to rise or for significant events to shift the landscape.
- Endorsements from influential figures could potentially sway donors and voters in this race, and candidates will rely on money to build their name recognition through advertising on social media, television, and other platforms.
- The California gubernatorial race is particularly important given the state's Democratic lean, which means the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to become governor, barring an unlikely upset from Republican candidates.
- Some believe that factors such as candidate communication strategies, issue stances, and general news coverage will play a crucial role in determining the ultimate winner of the California gubernatorial race.
