California Governor's race

[Mz Pip]

So, there are 2 main Republicans running, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. Currently, combined they are splitting the Republican vote two ways.

So far 8 or 9 Democrats are splitting the remaining vote along with undecideds.

If the primary were held today, the top two finishers who would advance to the general would be Republicans. No Democratic candidate is polling higher than either of the two Republicans.

The primary is 4 months out and the only ads I’ve seen are for Tom Steyer who is polling at 8%

As of February 4:

Bianco(R) 17%
Hilton(R). 14%
Porter(D) 11%
Swalwell(D) 11%
Steyer(D) 8%
(Source abc10.com, David Binder polling)
I really hope one of our Democratic candidates starts to pull ahead.

[quaint]

1. I think it likely one or more of the lower polling Democrats will pull out.

[Mz Pip]

2. Betting odds

Betting odds have Swalwell pretty far ahead. I don’t recognize half the names of the other Democrats competing.
Steyer has the money. He wouldn’t be the first Democratic billionaire to occupy a Governor’s office.

The 2 Republicans are MAGA scumbags. Either one would be a disaster for our state.

[lostincalifornia]

3. Both Hilton and Bianco are extremists candidates. During the Newsom recall they were saying that Elder, a right wing

talk show host was going going to win. This was pushed by the fox propaganda network, and was defeated in the recall by Newsom by double digits.

Hilton is affiliated with fox news, and a trumper. Bianco is even worse. He was exposed as belonging to the Oath Keepers in 2021, and played the usual bullshit excuses.

Both are extremely dangerous, which makes our jungle primaries extremely risky.

Following a hacking incident in September 2021 against a database belonging to the Oath Keepers, Bianco, along with over 200 law-enforcement officers, was exposed as a former member of the organization.[4][9][26] He later stated that he had paid for a $40 one-year membership in the organization in 2014 and did not renew it for the next year. Bianco has since disavowed the group's violent conduct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Bianco

Democrats better get their act together after the first debate, and organize behind one candidate. We can't play games that it has to be the "perfect" candidate or they won't vote.

[IcyPeas]

4. Wheres Antonio Villaraigosa?

https://www.antonio2026.com/

[quaint]

5. Good question, especially since CalMatters fund raising reporting differs.

CalMatters
Feb 3, 2026
Republican Steve Hilton leads California governor fundraising as large pool of Democrats lag
###
Press Release Feb 3 (from your link)
Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles and former Speaker of the California State Assembly, announces that he raised $6,314,509.63 in the California Governor’s race, making him the top fundraiser and the only candidate to reach this milestone with no transfers and no self-funding.

[NBachers]

6. I actually like Tom Steyer, but not for governor. I'm backing Eric Swalwell, and I just donated to him.

https://www.ericswalwell.com/

[LogDog75]

7. It's way too early for most people to be paying attention to the governor's race

With that said, I'm thinking on the Democratic side it will be either Swalwell or Villaraigosa; most probably Swalwell. Both have name recognition but Villaraigosa is strongest in Los Angles where he is mayor but Swalwell has more statewide exposure as a Congressman and a top Trump foe.

Tom Steyer is a billionaire and although he a liberal voters are, IMO, tired of billionaires running for office. We see them as candidates out to help themselves rather than their constituents.

Right now, there are too many candidates running for governor in the Democratic Party. Hopefully, this number will be reduced to one or two. Too many candidates running would split the votes allowing the possibility of two republicans getting the most primary votes in California's Top Two-Tiered system.