California Governor Race: Leading Candidates as Kamala Harris Opts Out

Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision to pass on the California gubernatorial race sets up a competitive primary for the plethora of candidates already vying for the state’s top seat.

Why It Matters

Harris announced on Wednesday she is not running for governor in the 2026 election to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom, who cannot run again due to term limits. Harris enjoyed an early polling lead in the race, and some Democrats speculated that if she chose to run, others would have exited the race, deciding not to compete against her.

The announcement leaves the field open for other Democrats, many of whom are already working to build up statewide name recognition in the expansive—and expensive—state.

What to Know

Harris wrote in a statement Wednesday that she has “given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor” but decided she will “not run for Governor in this election.”

“For now, my leadership—and public service—will not be in elected office,” Harris added. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead of my own plans.”

With Harris out of the race, other Democrats will spend the coming months working to win over the sizable number of primary voters who intended to support her if she chose to run. Her supporters make up a sizable group of the electorate, as she led each of the polls that included her.

Notably, California uses a jungle primary system, where all candidates, regardless of political party, run on a single ballot for the primary. The two candidates with the most support advance to the general election.

A Capitol Weekly poll of the race from February showed Harris favored by 23 percent of respondents. Republican John Cox, who has not said he’s running, followed at 21 percent, and former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, a Democrat who represented parts of Orange County from 2019 to 2025, placed third with 16 percent.

However, when asked about the ballot without Harris, Porter held a lead over other candidates with 26 percent. Cox followed with 21 percent.

Democrat Rick Caruso had 8 percent support (though he has not formally announced a campaign), while former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and current California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis each garnered 5 percent support.

Former state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, ex-state Controller Betty Yee and former state Senator and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins each had 3 percent support in that poll, which surveyed 692 registered voters from February 3 to February 7.

A recent Emerson College poll also asked voters about who they plan to vote for, though the survey did not include Republicans.

When Harris was included, she led the pack with 31 percent.

However, when Harris was not included, Porter led with 12 percent, while Villaraigosa followed with 5 percent. Republican Chad Bianco gained 4 percent, and Becerra, Kounalakis and Yee had support from 3 percent of voters apiece. It surveyed 911 likely voters from April 12 to April 14 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Regardless of who wins the primary, Democrats are viewed as the favorite for the general election, as California is a reliably blue state. In the November presidential election, Harris carried her home state by more than 20 points, with more than 58 percent of the vote share in her unsuccessful battle for the White House against President Donald Trump.

What People Are Saying

Porter wrote in a post to X: “@KamalaHarris is a principled leader and I’m proud of the work we accomplished together on consumer protection during the housing crisis and grateful for her service to California and our country. I look forward to seeing her next accomplishments and continuing our work together.”

Villaraigosa wrote in a statement: “I have deep respect for Vice President Kamala Harris and her decades of leadership and public service to the people of California and our nation. Her decision not to enter the race for governor reflects her continued commitment to serving at the highest levels of government, and I know she will continue to be a powerful voice for justice, equality, and opportunity.”

Atkins wrote in a statement: “From day one, this campaign has been about California’s future — tackling rising costs, defending our freedoms, and standing up for communities too often left behind. Vice President Harris has made her decision, and I thank her for her decades of service to our state and country.”

Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo wrote to X: “Former Vice President Kamala Harris announcing later today she’s not running for CA Governor will make history in the number of cascading dominos this will have across CA in terms of candidates futures, lower statewide races impacted etc. Her exit is the full employment political operative Act because of the number of candidates for CA GOV that will be running for this office.”

What Happens Next

Whether other candidates later jump into the race and join a crowded primary field after Harris’ announcement remains to be seen. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both classify the race as being safely Democratic, meaning it’s not viewed as competitive at this point.

Harris’ announcement fueled speculation that she could again run for president in 2028 in what is also likely to be a competitive Democratic primary against potential high-profile candidates like Newsom and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.