A guide to the California governor’s race — without all the boring stuff | Opinion
We have procrastinated long enough, people.
The primary election for governor will be here before we know it — early voting is less than five months away — and I, for one, still need a cheat sheet to remember all the candidates’ names.
It’s time to do some homework, but let’s not waste energy on a lot of boring facts and figures that are bound to change anyway — like poll numbers, campaign contributions and those agonizingly long lists of endorsements.
We’ll stick to the really important stuff, like who broke two thumbs, who likes to walk around barefoot and who shares a birthday.
And let’s do it the easy way: Q&A.
How many candidates are there, anyway?
More than you may realize. Currently, there are 10 candidates who are considered “major” — eight Democrats and two Republicans. (For simplicity’s sake, the R’s are Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, with the rest being D’s.)
As in any election, there is a slew of minor candidates you have probably never heard of, bringing the total closer to 30.
Should we learn their names?
No. To borrow a colorful phrase from Sac Bee columnist Robin Epley, the minor candidates don’t have a “Bomb Pop’s chance in July of actually winning.” (I had to look up the meaning of “Bomb Pop.” It is 1) a brand of frozen ice pop or 2) a poker term.)
Why would someone run for governor when failure is guaranteed?
Excellent question. They may see it as a way to draw attention to their cause. Or perhaps running for governor is on their bucket list; they want to pad their resume; or they are involved in a very intense game of “Truth or Dare.”
Will the list of ‘major’ candidates shrink?
Yes, if the Dems know what’s good for them. Otherwise, the vote will be hopelessly spilt, practically guaranteeing that at least one Republican will make the November runoff.
Who is the oldest candidate? And who’s the youngest?
Not all 30 or so candidates have provided their dates of birth, but of the major candidates, 72-year-old Antonio Villaraigosa is the oldest and Ian Calderon, 40, is the youngest.
Do any candidates share a birthday?
Yes! We know of at least two: Betty Yee and Ian Calderon were both born on Oct. 19, though in different years.
Who is the wealthiest?
That would be billionaire Tom Steyer.
How rich is he?
According to Forbes, he is worth $2 billion, making him the 1,917th richest person in the world, as of Dec. 16. By comparison, Elon Musk is now worth $600 billion.
Were all the candidates born in the U.S.?
No, Steve Hilton was born in Huntingdon, England, but he is a U.S. citizen. Like former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, he has an accent, only his is British.
Footnote: Candidate Xavier Becerra was born in Sacramento, California. Eric Swalwell was born in Sac City, Iowa, not in Sacramento, California, as reported earlier. Apologizes to our friends in Sac City.
Has any candidate been arrested?
Not that we are aware of, though Riverside Sheriff Bianco has undoubtedly made many arrests.
How many are currently serving in an elected office?
Only three: U.S. Rep Eric Swalwell; State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; and Bianco.
Of the remaining major candidates, five have previously held a high-ranking, elective office in government: Katie Porter served in Congress; Antonio Villaraigosa was mayor of Los Angeles; Xavier Becerra was a California attorney general and cabinet secretary under Joe Biden; Betty Yee was state controller; and Ian Calderon was the first millennial to serve in the state Assembly.
That leaves Steyer (the billionaire) and Hilton (the Brit) who did serve as chief strategist for former Prime Minister David Cameron, where he earned the nickname “barefoot warrior” by padding around 10 Downing Street without shoes.
Can a non-politician actually win?
Only if they are a well-known celebrity. (See Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Donald Trump.)
Do any of these candidates qualify as celebrities?
Not unless you count Hilton’s previous stint as a Fox News host. Also, a candidate who withdrew, Stephen Cloobeck, was on “Undercover Boss” — twice.
Footnote: Actor Mel Gibson flirted with the idea of running for governor but wisely decided against it.
Who aligns most closely with Gavin Newsom’s politics?
By general consensus, Xavier Becerra. While he comes across as more low-key than Newsom, he shares his contempt for Donald Trump. When he served as California attorney general during Trump’s first term, Becerra sued the Republican administration 110 times.
And who is most Trumpian?
Easy: Riverside Sheriff Bianco
Runner-up: Hilton
Is Steve Hilton related to Paris?
No
Any wild campaign promises?
Bianco wants to eliminate state income tax. Cool! But how’s he going to fund the state government?
Steyer, meanwhile, just announced a plan to build 1 million new homes over the next four years. (The state currently averages 80,000 new homes per year, which works out to 320,000 new homes over four years.) And these will be homes Californians can afford! Steyer also vows to reduce our utility bills by 25%.
No word on whether he will invest any of his own fortune to help those dreams comes true.
Footnote: Bianco placed first among all the candidates in the Dec. 4 Emerson College poll.
Who is the wonkiest?
Former Congressmember Katie Porter and her trusty side-kick, the whiteboard.
Who’s the biggest sports fan?
Eric Swalwell
Evidence: He’s referred to himself as “a lifelong member of The Faithful” (a reference to SF 49ers fans); he threw out the opening pitch at an Oakland A’s game; and he played Division 1 soccer his freshman and sophomore years at Campbell University in North Carolina.
Footnote: According to a 2013 bio, Swalwell’s dreams of a pro soccer career ended when he broke both of his thumbs.
What’s up with the 5 o’clock shadows?
As seen on Calderon and Swalwell, those are called “stubble beards” and according to GQ, “the classic shadow will never go out of style.”
Who has the best campaign slogan?
Hands down, Cloobeck had the best before he bowed out. His slogan — “California, get a Cloo” — will be tough to beat.
So, who is going to win a spot on the November ballot?
Based on current polls and betting odds, Swalwell is in good shape. But don’t count out Bianco or Porter — especially if she manages to avoid another meltdown — or someone still waiting to hop on the train.
This has been updated to correct the birthplace of Eric Swalwell.
This story was originally published December 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "A guide to the California governor’s race — without all the boring stuff | Opinion."
