Under California's top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes will move on to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Polling throughout the race showed no clear front-runner to replace Newsom, with a significant share of voters remaining undecided heading into the primary election, according to a recent CBS News poll. Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton, and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, both Democrats, have emerged as the leading contenders to advance to November's general election, according to preliminary results.
Among the other major candidates remaining in the race as of Tuesday night are State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
(L/R) Democrat Tony Thurmond, Republican Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer (D), Steve Hilton (R), Xavier Becerra (D), Katie Porter (D), Matt Mahan (D) and Antonio Villaraigosa (D). Patrick T. Fallon /AFP via Getty ImagesCost of living is at the forefront of many voters' minds as inflation has spiked in recent years. A recent CBS News poll showed that 70% of California registered voters say the cost of living is "unmanageable" where they live.
Throughout the race, candidates have been pressed on how they would address California's high cost of living, homelessness, energy policy, public safety, immigration, surging gas prices and housing affordability.
Hilton ascends in polling as Bianco falls behind
Hilton, who was born in London and once served as director of strategy for then-United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021. He's been highly critical of Newsom's actions on housing, homelessness and California's regulatory processes.
"We want [young people] to be able to make your life here in California," Hilton said during the CBS News Governor's Debate on April 28, describing his desire to make housing affordable and to "restore that California dream of home ownership."
SANTA ANA, CA - MARCH 18: Steve Hilton, California gubernatorial candidate, speaks during an affordability town hall at Hotel Zessa in Santa Ana on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty ImagesHilton received the endorsement over fellow Republican Bianco, a longtime supporter of Mr. Trump, who has lagged behind Hilton in recent surveys. The pair were engaged in a toe-to-toe battle in early polling for the race.
"California is broken because of what has been happening in Sacramento," he said during April's CBS News Governor's Debate. "The regulations and the taxes have got to go."
Becerra gets a post-Swalwell boost as Steyer positions himself as "class traitor"
Meanwhile, the crowded Democratic field has taken many forms over the course of the race. In April, one of the race's leading candidates, Rep. Eric Swalwell, suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress after multiple allegations of sexual assault came to light. Swalwell has denied all allegations.
Pasadena, CA - January 28:Candidates for governor former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and environmentalist Tom Steyer attend a climate-focused forum at the Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena on Wednesday evening, January 28, 2026. Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty ImagesBecerra, who represented parts of Los Angeles in Congress for 24 years starting in 1992, has touted his experience in government as the main driver of his campaign.
Becerra's primary competition from the Democratic side comes from Tom Steyer, who has never held public office before but ran for president in 2020. Steyer, an environmentalist, positions himself as the most progressive Democrat in the race.
"This is a three-way race with only two spots on the ballot," he said during a recent campaign event. "A MAGA Republican, a corporate Democrat, and you guys and me."
Porter, Mahan, Villaraigosa and Thurmond struggle to break through
"The votes are still being counted and it may take a few days here in California to have final numbers, but we know tonight that we will not advance to the general election in November," Porter said. "Running a race like this isn't easy, and coming up short is hard, but democracy is worth doing hard things for. Stay in the fight, stay in touch, and thank you for believing in me."
While conceding on Tuesday night, Mahan hinted at his political future.
Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ran on a similar experience-based platform to Becerra, but despite his standing as one of the first major candidates to begin a campaign, he failed to break through in polling. Before his tenure as mayor from 2005 to 2013, he was a prominent member of the California Assembly, serving as both Majority Leader and Speaker in the 1990s.
The campaign of California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also failed to gain traction, although he polled well enough to qualify for some early debates. Prior to his election to statewide office, Thurmond served in the state Assembly from 2014 to 2018.
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