Campaign Sixty-one candidates qualified for the primary ballot. California uses a
top-two primary system in which all candidates, regardless of party, appear on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to the general election. Among Republicans,
Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco and political commentator
Steve Hilton emerged as the leading candidates, while the Democratic field remained fragmented. This raised concerns that two Republicans could advance to the general election. Those concerns eased after president
Donald Trump endorsed Hilton, increasing the chance of a Democrat making it into the runoff because some Bianco supporters would likely shift their support to Hilton due to Trump's endorsement. As of early March 2026, polls showed that the three Democrats with the greatest amount of public support were representative
Eric Swalwell, hedge fund manager and
candidate for president in 2020 Tom Steyer, and former representative
Katie Porter. That same day,
CNN published additional claims from four women, including one allegation of rape and others describing inappropriate conduct and unsolicited nude photos. CNN reported that it had corroborated the accounts. Swalwell denied all of the allegations and sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the women threatening legal action. Following the allegations, several staff members resigned from Eric Swalwell's campaign, including co-chairs
Jimmy Gomez and
Adam Gray. The
California Teachers Association revoked its endorsement, By April 11, all of Swalwell's 21 fellow members of Congress previously endorsing him had withdrawn their support. The following day, he announced that he was suspending his campaign for governor. On April 13, Swalwell announced he had plans to resign from Congress, and formally left on April 14.
Endorsements {{Endorsements box ;U.S. senators •
Ruben Gallego,
Arizona (2025-present)
(endorsement rescinded) •
Adam Schiff,
California (2025–present)
(endorsement rescinded) •
Ami Bera, (2013–present)
(endorsement rescinded; later endorsed Mahan) •
Julia Brownley, (2013–present)
(endorsement rescinded) •
Gil Cisneros, (2025–present) and former (2019–2021)
(endorsement rescinded) •
Lou Correa, (2017–present)
(endorsement rescinded) (endorsement rescinded) •
Jimmy Gomez, (2017–present)
(endorsement rescinded) (endorsement rescinded) •
Ted Lieu, (2013–present)
(endorsement rescinded) (endorsement rescinded) •
Doris Matsui, (2005–present) •
Jared Moskowitz, (2023-present)
(endorsement rescinded) •
Kevin Mullin, (2023–present) •
Linda Sánchez, (2003–present) was ultimately canceled hours before it was set to begin. Using a formula developed by USC political science professor
Christian R. Grose that combined fundraising and polling data, only six candidates were invited: Republicans Bianco and Hilton, and Democrats Mahan, Porter, Steyer, and Swalwell. The selection drew criticism, particularly because no nonwhite candidates qualified and because Mahan's strong fundraising offset weaker polling. USC and over 50 scholars defended the formula, but the debate was canceled after organizers could not agree to expand the field.
Polling with Rick Caruso with Alex Padilla with Kamala Harris with John Cox, Lanhee Chen and Rob Bonta with Brian Dahle with Steve Garvey "Democratic Primary Poll" Results == General election ==