Summary
California Governor Gavin Newsom will step down in January 2026 after serving two terms. Several prominent Democrats are not running for his position, while some candidates, including Katie Porter and Xavier Becerra, have announced their intentions to join the race. California is now the fourth biggest economy in the world, making the governorship a significant political role.
Key Facts
- Gavin Newsom will leave the governor's office in January 2026 as his term limit ends.
- California is currently the fourth largest economy globally, surpassing Japan.
- Democratic figures like Kamala Harris and Alex Padilla have not entered the governor's race.
- Candidates for the Democratic primary include Katie Porter and Xavier Becerra.
- Katie Porter led early polls but faced controversy during an interview.
- The California governorship has been a stepping stone to the U.S. presidency in the past.
- A poll found Katie Porter with 23% support, trailing behind Steve Hilton's 29%.
