Governor Race 2026

Xavier Becerra has won California's race for governor. Just days after he is inaugurated in January, he will have to submit a new budget. He faces a stark choice.

Democrat Xavier Becerra easily won for race for governor in the most populous Democratic state in the country.

Californians have a full ballot for the November 2026 election, including a governor's race, congressional seats and 14 propositions. Don’t miss your chance to make your ballot count.

For weeks, Republican Steve Hilton has tried every trick in the book to boost his candidacy in the California governor’s race. It doesn’t appear to have made a big difference.

We asked California governor candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton how they'd manage conflicts over water. The Republican endorsed more spending on dams.

California's political system makes it difficult to get elected without personal wealth or wealthy donors. A psychology professor says a public financing system could empower better candidates.

A suggestive new Hilton ad tries to seduce liberal voters into voting Republican — and instead infuriated his conservative allies.

"All you say is Trump, Trump, Trump," Hilton said on a question about immigration. "Trump, Trump, Trump," Becerra responded. So it went for an hour and a dozen issues.

In their only debate, Xavier Becerra repeatedly linked Steve Hilton to President Donald Trump — while Hilton accused him of dodging California's real problems.

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton say they’re mindful of voters’ worries about healthcare costs, but their plans don’t have much detail.