2026 California gubernatorial election

The 2026 California gubernatorial election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of California. Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom will be term limited through the state's constitution and cannot run for reelection to a third term.
Background.
Eligibility and requirements.
Section 5 of the California Constitution states for a person to serve as governor, you must be at least 18 years old, and have been a citizen of the United States and California for at least five years. The state's constitution forbids anyone from being elected governor more than twice.
Possible debate topics.
Abortion.
The "Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization" decision in June 2022, which overturned the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" decision and permitted U.S. states to fully ban abortion for the first time in nearly 50 years, has made abortion a more possible issue. In the 2026 election, the topic of abortion is expected to play a major role in the Republican Party.
Crime.
Due to mass shootings increasingly surging in the United States, the Democratic Party has advocated for an assault weapons ban. This is most likely a major campaign topic to play out in both parties.
Democratic Party.
Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom was elected in 2018 and was reelected in 2022, and cannot seek reelection to a third term due to the state's constitution of term limits. Potential candidates have expressed interest in running such as, Fiona Ma, Betty Yee, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
Republican Party.
No candidates have yet expressed interest.