California is undergoing a major political transition as Governor Gavin Newsom’s term ends and voters participate in the 2026 primary election for governor. The race is centered on core issues facing the state, especially affordability, housing, public safety and broader dissatisfaction with California’s direction. The two candidates drawing the most attention are Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra, both of whom are presenting sharply different visions for the state’s future.
Becerra has framed his campaign around resistance to Donald Trump and his policies. He says Californians are already familiar with disasters, but argues that Trump represents a “man-made natural disaster” affecting the state every day. Becerra also points to his record as California attorney general, highlighting that he sued the Trump administration more than 120 times and says he won major victories protecting Obamacare, workers and Dreamers. His campaign message is built around defending California from federal attacks while preserving existing social protections.
Hilton is taking a very different approach. He has criticized California under Democratic leadership, describing the state as known for crime, chaos and squalor. He blames what he calls the incompetence of one-party Democratic rule for problems including the destruction caused by the 2025 Los Angeles County fires. Hilton’s pitch to voters is a promise to “make California Golden again,” a slogan that echoes Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” message and reflects his effort to cast himself as a change candidate willing to challenge the political establishment.
Because this is only the primary election, no candidate has yet been declared the final winner of the governor’s race. The real contest will be decided in the general election in November 2026, when voters will choose California’s next governor. Under the state’s election system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will advance to the fall general election.
Current polling suggests a close race. According to CNN, Hilton is leading with 27.8 percent, while Becerra follows closely at 25.4 percent. Tom Steyer is in third place at 19 percent. If the results remain steady once all ballots are counted, Hilton and Becerra are expected to move on to the general election.
At this stage, however, the outcome remains uncertain. The contest is expected to depend heavily on campaign momentum, voter turnout and which candidate can better convince Californians that they can address the state’s most pressing problems. With Newsom’s time in office ending, the governor’s race has become a defining test of whether voters want a continuation of Democratic leadership or a shift toward a Republican-led alternative.
