Governor Race 2026

Xavier Becerra seems almost certain to advance in the governor's race, given pre-election polls and initial vote counts. If Republican Steve Hilton joins him, Becerra would likely have an easy win in November.

California's wild and wide-open primary election came to a close Tuesday with voters consolidating behind leading candidates for their parties.

Few California mayors ever become governor. Their skills might be perfectly suited to the job, but those exact same skills, when exercised, may be precisely what makes voters wary of them. 

California's payroll taxes aren’t keeping up with benefit payouts. The unemployment insurance fund will be $22 billion in the hole by year's end, the state says.

CalMatters partnerships director Dan Hu drove 3,000 miles, teamed up with 30 local partners and hosted more than 600 people at VotingMatters events, presenting nonpartisan election information and fostering community discussions.

California has new rules meant to speed up ballot counting, but elections experts and county officials say close races could still take weeks to resolve.

Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton led in polls in the final days of the California governor election. Results are expected to begin coming in tonight.

Billionaires, Big Oil and other interests are spending big to influence the California governor’s race, making for the most expensive primary campaign in state history.

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton appear to have commanding leads in the governor's race, according to new polling released just days before the primary election.

The races for governor and Los Angeles mayor offer candidates in contrast: some with years of experience running bureaucracies and others proud to have none.