California governor's race: Candidates and scandals

The ongoing California governor's race shows a competitive field filled with various candidates and controversies. Several articles cover the candidates stepping into the fray or saying they won't run, while others highlight scandals that have emerged in the race.

Vice President Kamala concedes the Presidential election to Donald Trump in a Nov. 5, 2024, speech at a Howard University in Washington D.C. The presidential race was called for Donald Trump after he captured the necessary swing states, bringing him back to the White House for a second term.

NO. 1: KAMALA HARRIS ANNOUNCES HER DECISION ON RUNNING FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she will not run for California governor next year.“I am a devout public servant, and from the earliest days of my career, I have believed that the best way I could make a difference in people’s lives and fight for a better future was to improve the system from within,” Harris wrote in a lengthy statement. | Published July 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Nixon

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks during a California Chamber of Commerce gubernatorial panel discussion at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento on June 4. By PAUL KITAGAKI JR.

NO. 2: KATIE PORTER’S CONTROVERSIES DAMAGED HER CAMPAIGN FOR CA GOVERNOR, POLL SHOWS

Katie Porter’s two caught-on-tape blunders have damaged her status as a frontrunner in the open governor’s race, according to a new poll obtained by The Sacramento Bee. | Published November 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Nixon

California Sen. Alex Padilla is pushed out of the room as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025. By David Crane

NO. 3: SEN. ALEX PADILLA SAYS HE WON’T ENTER RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026

Sen. | Published November 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Lightman

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a gubernatorial candidate salon hosted by the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO and the State Building and Construction Trades Council at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento on May 12, 2025. By PAUL KITAGAKI JR.

NO. 4: CA GOVERNOR RACE HEATS UP: AD SLAMS XAVIER BECERRA’S OVERSIGHT OF CHILD MIGRANTS

A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa takes aim at his opponent Xavier Becerra’s handling of vulnerable child migrants as a top official during the Biden administration. | Published November 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Nixon

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra talks with students at Rio Americano High School on Monday, April 8, 2024, during a visit to the Sacramento region to highlight his department’s efforts to expand the health care workforce. By Hector Amezcua

NO. 5: WHAT THE DANA WILLIAMSON SCANDAL MEANS FOR THE CA GOVERNOR’S RACE

“I’m like, is every candidate who has a misstep going to have to go to Fox 40 or some TV station to go explain?” | Published November 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kate Wolffe

Tom Steyer speaks during the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in 2019 in San Francisco. The billionaire environmentalist and former presidential candidate launched a campaign Wednesday to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in next year’s California gubernatorial race.

NO. 6: TOM STEYER ENTERS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE: ‘THEY’RE GOING TO HATE THIS’

Tom Steyer, a billionaire Democratic environmentalist and former presidential candidate, launched his candidacy Wednesday for next year’s race to replace term-limited Gov. | Published November 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Nixon

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) held the news conference to discuss the House Republicans approving a new panel to investigate the January sixth attack on the U.S Capitol. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

NO. 7: REP. ERIC SWALWELL JUMPS INTO CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE WITH KIMMEL ANNOUNCEMENT

Rep. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Nixon

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.