2026 race for California governor goes into new gear and directions with Kamala Harris out
Share this @internewscast.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After months of uncertainty, the race to become California’s next governor started Thursday.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision to not participate in the 2026 contest on Wednesday has shifted the campaign dynamics, leaving the race without its most prominent potential contender and expected early frontrunner. Harris’ official withdrawal paves the way for more candidates to join, altering an already crowded field without a dominant figure.

Democrats are still expected to retain control of the seat currently occupied by outgoing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, in a state where Republicans haven’t secured a statewide victory in almost 20 years. Democrats hold nearly a 2-to-1 registration advantage over Republicans across California.

“The starting gun just popped,” noted Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta, labeling it as the first genuinely wide-open gubernatorial race in over 25 years. “The race is on.”

Other Democrats work to position themselves

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter quickly began to position herself as a key contender, as her campaign made appeals for donations to “solidify Katie as the Democratic front-runner.” Meanwhile, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra aimed to align himself with Harris’ legacy, given both previously served as California attorneys general.

“The vice president and I have been together in this fight to restore the American Dream for a long time,” Becerra stated. “I’m proud of our shared record — expanding health care for millions of Americans, reducing prescription drug costs, addressing the country’s mental health crisis, and defending reproductive freedom.”

Harris’ decision “reshapes this race for governor, but not the stakes,” he added.

The race had been moving slowly for months due to Harris’s potential candidacy, but now, in light of her decision, campaigns will be seeking to attract her supporters and reassessing the landscape from which Harris is absent. Fundraising emails flooded inboxes.

Democratic consultant Michael Trujillo, a former aide to Democratic candidate and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said voters loyal to Harris are going to have to rethink their choices while looking at candidates they might not know much about in a large and growing field.

“I think everyone is picking up points from Kamala’s voters now that she is not an option,” Trujillo said. “There now is more oxygen for everyone else.”

California is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance. The race will unfold with President Donald Trump dominating daily headlines as his administration battles the liberal-leaning state over health care funding for lower-income residents, immigration and environmental protection.

More than half of voters think the state is headed in the wrong direction, with many households vexed by inflation, notorious taxes and some of the nation’s highest utility bills. Soaring rents and housing prices are driving residents to other, more affordable states. The state budget is expected to be in the red in coming years. And billions in spending on homelessness has done little to check the crisis.

But the primary election is not until June 2, so it is impossible to know what will be motivating voters in 10 months.

Republicans see glimmers of hope

Long-suffering Republicans in the state have been heartened by last year’s elections, in which the heavily Democratic state displayed a slight rightward shift. While Harris — a former San Francisco prosecutor, state attorney general and U.S. senator — won the state in a landslide, she fell well short of former President Joe Biden’s vote totals in 2020 while Trump picked off a string of counties that eluded him four years earlier.

Among the candidates, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a statement that Harris realized “the status quo is impossible to defend.” And conservative commentator Steve Hilton welcomed Harris’ decision and said “after 15 years of one-party Democrat rule, everyone can see it’s time for change in California.”

As is the case in high-profile races for governor, a long list of candidates — some known, others not — fills out the ballot. California has what is known as a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same primary ballot regardless of political party, but only the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

Other Democrats in the mix include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; former state controller Betty Yee; former state Senate leader Toni Atkins; state schools superintendent Tony Thurmond; and real estate developer Stephen Cloobeck.

Rich outsider could shake up race

In California, home to some of the nation’s richest Americans, it is always possible a wealthy outsider could shake up the race. That was the case in 2010, when billionaire Republican Meg Whitman spent nearly $180 million, much of it her own money, but lost to Democrat Jerry Brown, a former governor.

Newsom — who has not endorsed a successor — was asked Thursday what he thought of the possibility that he and Harris, old friends from the San Francisco Bay Area, might meet again in the 2028 presidential race. Harris has not ruled out another run for the presidency after falling short in 2020 and 2024. Newsom is widely seen as positioning himself for a run in 2028 though he has veered away from speculating about his political future.

“We’ll see where fate brings all of us,” Newsom told reporters. “I’m looking forward to what she does next.”

___

Associated Press writer Tran Nguyen in Sacramento contributed.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Gap Enlists Multicultural Girls Group Katseye And The Song ‘Milkshake’ For Jeans Ad In Apparent Response To Sydney Sweeney And American Eagle

Gap Partners with Diverse Girl Group Katseye Using ‘Milkshake’ Song for New Jeans Ad Following Sydney Sweeney’s Collaboration with American Eagle

Gap’s latest “Better In Denim” jeans ad, featuring the contrived multicultural girl…
How the AP did its analysis of partisan advantage in US House districts

Understanding the AP’s Analysis of Partisan Advantage in US House Districts

The Associated Press used an “efficiency gap” analysis to examine congressional elections…
Report: Here's What Gavin Newsom Was Doing in the Early Days of the Riots As LA Burned

Breaking: Bed Bath & Beyond Chair Criticizes Gavin Newsom’s Response to Escalating Situation

Gavin Newsom is still allegedly the Governor of California.  Yet, he spends…
Mugshot of Erik Menendez.

Erik and Lyle Menendez May Still Be Released Despite Parole Denial, Family Continues Their Battle

ERIK and Lyle Menendez may have another shot at freedom even if…
Chinese national sentenced to prison for sabotaging employer's systems with 'kill switch'

Chinese Citizen Imprisoned for Disabling Employer’s Systems with ‘Kill Switch’

A Chinese national residing in Texas received a four-year prison sentence and…
Oh My: Steak 'n Shake Schools Cracker Barrel on Abandoning Their History

Wow: Steak ‘n Shake Shows Cracker Barrel How Not to Forget Their Roots

Cracker Barrel has been facing a lot of negative response on social…

Ex-NBA Star Shawn Kemp Sentenced to 30 Days of House Arrest for Shooting Incident in Washington Parking Lot

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA player Shawn Kemp was sentenced on…
Trump Administration eyes reopening MN private prison to house immigrants

Trump Administration Considers Reopening Minnesota Private Prison for Immigrant Housing

The Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton closed in 2010 and can house…
Kim Jong Un acknowledges deaths of 100 North Korean soldiers he sent to fight for Vladimir Putin

Kim Jong Un Confirms Loss of 100 North Korean Soldiers Deployed to Support Putin

On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seemed to admit for…
Chicago shooting: 4 shot, 3 fatally, in 2 East Garfield Park shootings on Maplewood, Gladys Avenues, police say

Chicago Incident: 4 Shot, 3 Killed in East Garfield Park Shootings, Police Report

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago police reported that two separate shootings in the…
Viral photos of deer with strange warts follow 'Frankenstein' rabbit, squirrel sightings

Unusual photos of deer with bizarre warts emerge following ‘Frankenstein’ rabbit and squirrel sightings.

As photos of so-called “Frankenstein” rabbits and squirrels with strange growths on…
Israel's Data Reveals 83% Civilian Kill Rate in Gaza Genocide

Israel’s Data Indicates 83% Civilian Casualty Rate in Gaza Conflict

The Netanyahu regime’s own classified data exposes a horrifying truth: five out…