Former Congressman Eric Swalwell dropping out of the California Gubernatorial race has significantly reshaped the competition. Swalwell, who was once one of the strongest competitors for the democrats, suspended his campaign last month due to controversy. This abrupt event opened the door for other candidates to gain momentum. The current race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom has become one of the most competitive and unpredictable political battles in the country.
The current competition includes a wide range of democratic and republican candidates, each with their own approach on defining California’s future on issues such as homelessness, crime, immigration, etc. Among the Democrats is Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under Joe Biden. Since Swalwell’s exit, Becerra’s campaign has gained a lot of momentum. Becerra has emphasized his qualified political resume, including serving as the California attorney general and defending the Affordable Care Act.
Another major Democratic contender is former Orange County congresswoman Katie Porter, known for her aggressive questioning during multiple congressional hearings, as well as for her focus on corporate accountability. After running for the Senate for California in 2024 and losing to current senator Adam Schiff, Katie Porter has her sights set on the Governor’s office.
After failing to advance in the 2018 race, Former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is again running for California governor. Having previously served in the State Assembly, Villaroigosa describes himself as a problem solver going into detail on his resume to prove his credibility. Antonio Villaraigosa is credited for expanding the LAPD force during his tenure while also contributing significantly to public transparency. He became the 41st mayor of Los Angeles after previously losing in 2001, and is now directing his focus to becoming governor. Meanwhile, billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer has poured an exorbitant amount of resources into his campaign in order to project his plans for economic reforms.
Additionally, the Democratic side also includes Matt Mahan, the youngest candidate of the race, whose background in tech and business led him to create multiple startups. Mahan’s career in politics began in 2020 when he became a San Jose city councilmember. His main proposals are pledges to combat homelessness, while also pausing taxes on new homes for roughly two years, which is sure to spark an increase in the amount of new houses being built, thus increasing affordability.
Republicans are also swooping in, using voter frustration as a catalyst for their momentum. British born former Fox News host Steve Hilton is one of the strongest Republican candidates — he has been leading most of the polls, among the highest Democratic candidates, which is leading many to think that the once rich blue state could take a turn in the opposite direction in its politics. Alongside Hilton, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco has also been leading the polls.
The race intensified following a series of heated debates held in Los Angeles. Seven leading candidates; Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa faced off in discussion regarding taxes, gas prices, California’s high cost of living, and much more. During the May 6 CNN debate, the candidates repeatedly interrupted and attacked another, showing just how competitive the race has gotten. Becerra emerged as one of the debate’s main targets after receiving many gains due to Swalwell’s exit, with Mahan referring to him as a “career politician” and Steyer passing judgment due to him accepting donations from Chevron. Republicans Hilton and Bianco blame Democratic leadership as the leading cause for California’s economic struggles. All in all, the growing tensions within both parties have emphasized the fact that as of right now, there isn’t a clear frontrunner in the crowd to replace Governor Newsom.
