California gubernatorial competition intensifies with major candidates’ transformation plan

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said she won’t pursue a bid in 2026, an open season for California governors. Gavin Newsom successor.

Harris said in a statement on July 30 that she would not seek elected positions “now”.

“In recent months, I have seriously considered asking the people of California to be their governor. I love this state, its people and its promise. This is my home. But after a deep reflection, I decided to run for governor in this election,” she wrote, just one day before the announcement of “107 days.”

California Democrats withdraw from governor’s campaign

Since its announcement, there have been many significant developments in the competition, including Lieutenant Gov Eleni Kounalakis dropping out of school to run for the Treasury.

“This decision was not made easily,” Kunalakis said Friday. “At the moment, I believe I can make the biggest impact by focusing on California’s financial future.”

Kounalakis, a long-time friend of Harris, appears to have been backed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before she quit.
“We have a lot of great candidates, especially the Eleni Tsakopoulos I support,” Pelosi said in a recent CNN interview.

Kamala Harris publishes behind the scenes account of the 2024 defeated campaign

California Lieutenant Elanie Kunalakis (C) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (R) participated in the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on August 19, 2024 (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty)

Her decision to quit sparked a response from Rick Caruso Los Angeles Real estate tycoons face Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in 2022.

“Eleni Kounalakis embodies the creativity, creativity and motivation that makes California great,” Caruso posted to X on Friday. “She is a respected business leader who has created countless jobs for working families in our state. Her service in public office has always been a model. I look forward to her next outstanding contribution to our state.”

Meanwhile, there are still a large number of candidates in the field, including former Rep. Katie Porter, Biden-era Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Public Education Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragosa.

Kamala Harris’ decision not to run in 2026 opens the door for a possible second presidential election in 2028

President Biden looked at Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif). (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Porter had previously run for the Senate and ranked third in the primary. Adam Schiff and former Dodgers star Steve Garvey, a Republican.
On the Republican side, Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are running in the first two open main systems.

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Neither Harris nor Newsom have publicly recognized the game, and the two are also considered possible contenders for the 2028 presidential election.

The primary election is June 2, 2026.