How the 2026 California governor candidates view telework

Earlier this year, Newsom signed a new executive order that upped the required in-office days from two to four. His policy is based on the belief that in-person work enhances collaboration, communication, mentorship and accountability.

Newsom’s mandate was been met with considerable pushback from state workers and unions. The return-to-office order was paused earlier this summer as part of broader negotiations with the state’s 21 bargaining units.

However, some of the candidates running for the governor’s office in 2026 said they would’ve approached telework for state workers differently.

An SEIU Local 1000 forum on Saturday with candidates for California’s next governor provided a look at where those vying for the state’s top office stand on the future of telework. The forum was closed to the media, so the Bee asked candidates running for the governor how they would handle the question of remote work.

“Telework remains an incredibly important issue for our union,” SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls wrote in a statement. “When asked if candidates would commit to current telework arrangements, we were encouraged to hear broad support for maintaining flexibility and recognition that return-to-office cannot be a one-size-fits-all policy.”

Wells also wrote that all of the candidates in attendance said they would honor the SEIU Local 1000’s negotiated contracts if elected.

The candidates’ positions on telework reveal a clear split, with some prioritizing flexibility and others emphasizing the need for in-person services to serve Californians.

Candidate stances

Stephen Cloobeck, Democrat

Stephen Cloobeck, a businessman and former timeshare company executive, holds a strong anti-telework stance, arguing that employees should be physically present to receive a paycheck. He believes telework is a temporary, ineffective solution that harms collaboration and customer service.

The California customers, he explained in a phone interview, are the taxpayers of California and people who depend on state workers to “show up for work and to do their job.” Cloobeck was in attendance at the SEIU Forum but left the stage before conversation about telework came up.

“It’s ineffective, it’s uncollaborative, and it’s not in the customers of California’s best interests,” he told the Bee.

Chad Bianco, Republican

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is a firm proponent of a full return to the office. He points to first responders like law enforcement, fire fighters and front-line workers who have been working in person since the pandemic.

“State workers should be back in the office. Period,” he wrote in an email statement.

He emphasized that adequate customer service and serving the California public is not possible “from your couch.” Bianco was not present at the SEIU Governor’s Forum, but was invited, according to the SEIU website.

“It’s time for all government workers to return to the office,” Bianco wrote in a statement. “You can’t serve the public from home.”

Toni Atkins, Democrat

Former Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins talked about a flexible approach to remote work, saying that the union agreement with Newsom is a positive step.

“It recognizes that workplace policies should not be one-size-fits-all, and that flexibility benefits not just workers, but the people and communities they serve,” Atkins wrote in a statement. “The nature of work has changed — and we must also adapt.”

Betty Yee, Democrat

Former State Controller Betty Yee implemented telework during the pandemic, but emphasized that telework does not apply to all divisions and workers. Instead, she said, department managers took charge of what was most appropriate for operational needs and safety.

“I believe telework is the future of work, and there can be many benefits for the state and the public if implemented to best meet the needs of the public throughout the state and help with savings to the state,” Yee wrote in a statement.

She said the model led to high productivity, increased collaboration, and a culture of innovation. Yee believes that telework can also provide significant benefits like cost savings, reduced emissions, and more efficient services.

Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s position is a blend of both approaches, but ultimately leans toward in-person work. His stance aligns with the current administration’s direction.

In a statement he said that while he believes telework policy “must be bargained and based on operational needs,” his stated goal is “getting people to the office 4-5 days a week.”

Villaraigosa was not in attendance at the SEIU Forum.

Katie Porter, Democrat

Former Representative Katie Porter emphasized respecting the collective bargaining process and recognizing the diversity of state jobs. She said she would continue the current telework policies at the forum.

“So the reason I say yes is because I respect what you bargained for,” she said. “I respect the hell out of it.”

Porter said a flexible approach would be best to represent the variety of jobs that workplaces offer.

Despite requests for comment, the campaigns for Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and Tony Thurmond did not provide statements to inquiries from The Sacramento Bee.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM.