26:41Then-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., greets followers at a gathering on election night on March 5, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif.Damian Dovarganes/AP
The ever-growing roster of Democratic contenders vying to succeed Gavin Newsom, who is facing term limits as California’s governor, has left political professionals in astonishment.
"This is as uncertain as I've ever witnessed in a quarter-century," commented Steven Maviglio, a Democratic strategist based in Sacramento.
The hurdle for those campaigning will be demonstrating to the electorate that they can handle California’s high cost of living, and also step into the prominent role Newsom will vacate as a leading figure in Democrats’ opposition against President Donald Trump.
Recently, Rep. Eric Swalwell, who gained notoriety as a vocal critic of Trump in the House of Representatives and initiated a brief run for the presidency in 2020, declared his gubernatorial bid on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," stating to Kimmel that California "requires an advocate and a defender."
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., addresses journalists after a campaign event concerning Proposition 50 in San Francisco on Nov. 3, 2025.Jeff Chiu/AP
Billionaire Tom Steyer, who also mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020, announced his candidacy the previous day. Steyer, recognized within progressive circles for his commitment to environmental causes, expended significant funds supporting Newsom's recent redistricting initiative, Proposition 50.
"Each individual in this contest will discuss affordability, but what Californians are concerned with is tangible results, and who will possess the capability to deliver on reducing expenses. Moreover, Tom possesses a background of achieving objectives for California, even when established politicians couldn’t," a representative for Steyer remarked.
Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer speaks at a rally in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 26, 2020.Gerald Herbert/AP
Swalwell and Steyer both join a large assortment of noteworthy Democrats, including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"I am a demonstrated problem solver," Villaraigosa communicated to ABC News in a prepared statement.
"As the Speaker of the California Assembly, I extended access to reasonably priced health care to millions of children, and I enacted the most stringent restrictions on assault weapons in the nation. During my tenure as Mayor, I decreased crime by half and boosted our school graduation rate by 60%. No other candidate for governor has provided outcomes like these," Villaraigosa elaborated.
Villaraigosa is contending for prominence among other California political figures, such as former Rep. Katie Porter and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who also acted as secretary of Health and Human Services within the Biden administration.
Antonio Villaraigosa receives an endorsement for the governorship of California from Mayor Karen Bass on Sept. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles.Damian Dovarganes/AP
"Secretary Becerra represents the sole candidate in this race to confront the Trump Administration and succeed, initiating 122 lawsuits to safeguard Californians in his role as Attorney General. He delivered accessible health care to millions, and he negotiated reductions in medication prices to save California families thousands of dollars," a campaign spokesperson for Becerra stated to ABC News.
Strategists express astonishment that no candidate has distinctly positioned themselves as a front-runner, indicating a level of instability within the competition to govern a state encompassing almost 40 million inhabitants.
"It constitutes one of the most important races in the entire nation, yet remains virtually unknown," commented Democratic strategist Danielle Cendejas. "The identity of the next governor carries significant weight."
"A notably feeble assembly"
Democratic strategist Matt Rodriguez posits that the primary is so crowded because no candidate is exceptionally strong.
"I believe it’s a notably unassertive selection, a historically underpowered grouping," he remarked.
California employs a "jungle" or "top-two" primary system, wherein there exists a singular nonpartisan primary involving all candidates, with the two highest-ranking candidates progressing to a final election in November, regardless of party affiliation.
Rodriguez argued that having such a high number of Democratic hopefuls in a jungle primary "undoubtedly affords an advantage to a Republican in securing a place in the top two. At a certain point, there is a finite quantity of Democratic voters to be dispersed."
Then-U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks at the Linen Building in Boise, Idaho, on June 26, 2024.Kyle Green/AP
Maviglio proposed that two Republicans featuring in the general election is "conceivable, although not likely."
"We’ve witnessed this occur solely in a few legislative races, wherein the party possessing the majority fails to advance to the November election because of irregularities of that nature," he said.
Meager prospect for a Republican contender
GOP strategist and former executive director of the California Republican Party Jon Fleischman contended that even if a Republican were to reach the general election, their prospects of outright victory would be slim.
"Perhaps the pivotal consideration to bear in mind in California is that, if a general election transpires between a Republican and a Democrat, barring a monumental scandal of extreme proportions were to engulf the Democrat, we are fundamentally a blue state," Felischman stated.
"The sole scenario where it could become more engaging is if two Democrats secure spots in the runoff," Felischman added.
Currently, there are two prominent Republican candidates in the contest, one of whom is former Fox News personality Steve Hilton.
"A populous Democratic grouping implies that those candidates will allocate months contending with one another and defending the present circumstances, whereas Steve Hilton is concentrating on instituting change," Hilton campaign manager Matt Ciepielowski articulated to ABC News in a statement.
"Californians are exhausted by the nation’s highest poverty levels, exorbitant housing expenses, underperforming educational institutions, and a government that caters to vested interests rather than serving working families. Steve is campaigning to restore affordability, safety, and abundant opportunity to California," the declaration continued.
The other leading Republican contesting is Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is stressing his history in law enforcement to characterize himself as an individual who will adopt a rigorous approach to combating crime.
"Each Democratic participant aims to embody a more progressive version of the narcissist currently occupying the Governor’s office, and Californians simply cannot countenance this. Sheriff Bianco presents a novel pathway forward, and public opinion surveys indicate that his campaign resonates with the electorate," Rick Gorka, a representative for the Bianco campaign, informed ABC News in a statement.
A race still in flux
Others may still enter the field on the right, such as tech entrepreneur Jon Slavet, who submitted FEC documentation on Friday and advised ABC News that he intends to commence his campaign early in the coming month.
Maviglio defined the race as "unstable" and "a revolving door."
Vice President Kamala Harris deliberated a bid subsequent to her setback in the previous year’s presidential election, yet she revealed in July that she was no longer considering participating. Additionally, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla — who strategists indicate might have preempted other potential candidates had he launched a campaign — decided against a run earlier in the month.
"We have witnessed individuals declare their candidacy and then withdraw from the race. We have also observed individuals being enticed to contemplate a run, such as Padilla and Harris, only to subsequently opt against it. Hence, it is exceptionally difficult to monitor accurately," Maviglio stated.
Two political figures — California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former president pro tempore of the California state Senate Toni Atkins — initially announced their candidacies, only to discontinue their campaigns shortly thereafter.
Another rumored potential Democratic contender is billionaire Rick Caruso, who was defeated by Karen Bass in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election. While Caruso possesses significant financial resources and a degree of name recognition, he was a Republican until 2019, which could potentially alienate the progressive faction within his new party.
And although both Steyer and Caruso have substantial capital, strategists suggest they would be required to utilize it judiciously to mount successful campaigns.
"Self-funded candidates frequently underperform here. This is not to suggest that they are incapable of succeeding, but they commonly do not," Rodriguez argued, alluding to the unsuccessful campaigns of Michael Huffington in the 1994 Senate race, Al Checchi in the 1998 gubernatorial election, and Caruso in 2022.
Then-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., waves at supporters at an election night party on March 5, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif.Damian Dovarganes/AP
Difficulties for an initial favorite
Porter, the original front-runner and the sole significant female candidate in the pool, appeared to garner momentum following endorsements from the progressive PAC EMILY’s List and several statewide labor unions. Cendejas conceded that Porter potentially possessed an early edge due to her established recognition and the reality that she is "admired within numerous progressive spheres."
"Katie is a combatant, a single mother of three, and an uncompromising advocate for working families who challenged the Trump Administration and self-serving CEOs in Congress — and emerged victorious," Peter Opitz, a spokesperson for the Porter campaign, informed ABC News in a prepared statement.
However, recent controversy surrounding Porter’s conduct has diminished her initial advantage, suggesting that she may not represent as formidable a candidate as was initially believed.
In a video that circulated widely online recently, Porter engaged in a contentious exchange with a journalist, extending as far as threatening to discontinue the interview. Another video surfaced shortly thereafter portraying Porter admonishing a staff member.
"That which rises must inevitably fall," Cendejas stated concerning Porter.
In her inaugural appearance following the emergence of the videos, Porter offered an apology for the outbursts.
"I desire for individuals to understand that I recognize my actions were inappropriate," Porter conveyed to an audience at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento in October. "I will not equivocate concerning this matter; however, I also desire individuals to comprehend that I am engaged in this struggle because I will not recede nor concede an inch when individuals are causing detriment to Californians. Both of these assertions can simultaneously be truthful."
Rodriguez anticipates that the capability of a candidate to effectively establish themselves as someone who can lead California in confronting Trump will constitute "the essential factor."
"I believe Trump will exert a considerable influence here," Rodriguez included. "Everything will be centered around Trump."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
