California’s first statewide gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election cycle wrapped up Tuesday night, giving voters an early look at a crowded and still wide-open race just four months before the June primary.

As California's gubernatorial race heats up, it features a roster of candidates from across the political spectrum, each with unique backgrounds and priorities.

Most Democrats running to replace Newsom have praised the governor’s fiery opposition to President Trump and the Republican-led Congress, The Times’ Nicole Nixon wrote, including the governor’s outlandish online trolling of Trump and his allies. San José Mayor Matt Mahan was not impressed.

California Democrats are taking a victory lap, celebrating the fact that their election system has no way of verifying that the people who are casting votes are legitimate, registered voters. The Supreme Court of California effectively struck down Huntington Beach’s voter ID law,

A top Democrat running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted entrenched politicians afraid of change as he pledged to focus the 2026 California gubernatorial election on “waste, fraud and abuse.” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan,