Donate

Governor

Why does this race matter?

California is the country’s largest state, with an annual budget of $350 billion. The next governor will face a structural deficit that’s projected to reach $35 billion in a few years and a hostile administration in Washington — plus ongoing challenges including high housing and gasoline prices, homelessness and wildfire risk.

Candidates

Xavier Becerra
Xavier BecerraFormer U.S. Health and Human Services secretaryDemocrat
Steve Hilton
Steve HiltonBusinessmanRepublican
 

Positions on Key Issues

Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events and past news coverage.

California has clashed repeatedly with President Donald Trump's second administration and sued the federal government more than 60 times since he came into office. How would you approach the state’s relationship with the president?

Becerra cites fighting Trump as a top priority. He points to his time as California attorney general during Trump’s first term, when his office sued the president more than 120 times and won “most” of those cases, including protecting the Affordable Care Act, so-called Dreamer immigrants and the state’s sanctuary immigration law.
Hilton has Trump’s endorsement and says he will make sure California works with, not against, the president. But he’s also tried to appeal to independent and Republican voters, pointing to his time working for British Prime Minister David Cameron in a coalition government as proof he can work across the aisle. He disagrees with Trump’s attempts to restrict voting by mail. 

Affordability is a key concern for Californians, particularly around housing and gas. How would you work to bring those prices down?

Becerra cites the rising costs of healthcare, childcare and groceries. He says he will fight price gouging and unjustified rate hikes and “use the power of the state to lower costs where the market has failed.” He wants to give low-income families two free hours of electricity daily. And he says he will use state money to keep financially unstable people in their homes, rather than paying more to house them after they become homeless. 
Hilton says cutting taxes, spending and regulations will grow the economy and reduce unemployment. He promises to lower gas to $3 a gallon and halve electricity bills by eliminating climate change programs. He says he will make it possible for every family to buy a home by capping development fees and reducing environmental regulations. He wants to eliminate income taxes for individuals and families making less than $150,000 annually and cut state spending to pay for it. 

California faces a structural budget deficit, which is being compounded by federal spending cuts to key programs, including Medi-Cal (the state’s Medicaid program) and social safety net programs. Would you cut spending or try to increase taxes to deal with those challenges?

Becerra says he supports higher taxes on the “mega wealthy” but opposes Proposition 40, the proposed tax on billionaires. He has not spelled out specifics but says he would look at taxing “passive” income like investments. He has promised to protect state programs that support the most vulnerable Californians, like Medi-Cal, even though he opposes Proposition 40, which would backfill federal cuts to Medi-Cal. He says he supports eventually getting to state-level single-payer healthcare. 
Hilton wants to lower taxes and cut spending to pay for those tax cuts. Among his ideas for slashing spending: end the high-speed rail project, cut tens of thousands of state government jobs and stop providing healthcare to undocumented Californians. Hilton promises to create a joint federal-state task force to investigate fraud in government programs that he vows will "save taxpayer money."

Key Supporters

This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.

For Becerra

  • Kamala Harris, former vice president
  • Gavin Newsom, California governor
  • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
  • SEIU California

For Hilton

  • Jack Hibbs, pastor, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
  • Donald Trump, president
  • California Republican Party
  • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC

Fundraising
Campaign finance data comes from the California Secretary of State’s office or the Federal Election Commission.

Updated at 10:30 AM PT on Oct 8, 2026
Source: California Secretary of State
Xavier Becerra:
$36.1m
Steve Hilton:
$28.4m

Related Coverage

Player sponsored by