Crowded race: 10 candidates official running to be your next governor of California

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Ten major candidates are officially in the running for California governor as of Friday, the filing deadline, marking what political observers say is the most competitive gubernatorial primary the state has seen in years.

Some strategists warn the crowded field could splinter Democratic support and give Republicans an opening. Others view the lack of a clear frontrunner as a sign of healthy political engagement.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had this many candidates running for governor,” Democratic political consultant Jim Ross said.

Republican strategist Tim Rosales agreed that “nobody is breaking out of the pack.”

The final list of candidates comes just days after the chair of the California Democratic Party urged contenders without “a viable path to make it the general election” to step aside. No one heeded that call. Instead, all current candidates moved forward with official filings this week.

Xavier Becerra, Democrat

Chad Bianco, Republican

Steve Hilton, Republican

Matt Mahan, Democrat

Katie Porter, Democrat

Tom Steyer, Democrat

Eric Swalwell, Democrat

Tony Thurmond, Democrat

Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat

Betty Yee, Democrat

Ross said as many as four or five Democrats could plausibly make it into the state’s top-two primary system – raising the stakes for candidates struggling to differentiate themselves.

“You have a bunch of candidates who are basically sounding and looking the same,” Ross said. “What we’re seeing is a lot of general statements, but not a lot of specific action items.”

In recent cycles, Ross noted, there has typically been a dominant figure – such as Jerry Brown or Gavin Newsom – who shaped the race.

“When Jerry Brown ran he was a senior statesman,” Ross said. “Gavin Newsom ran against him, but then served as lieutenant governor. And what I think a lot of people felt was kind of an apprenticeship kind of role…you didn’t see anybody develop and really become the clear frontrunner over the eight years that Gavin Newsom was governor.”

MORE: Fearing GOP upset, top California Democrat urges lagging candidates for governor to drop out of race

Rosales said Republicans face a similar challenge attracting attention.

“You’ve got a field that some on both sides would say is fairly uninspiring or at least has not gained the attention of California voters really in thrust yet,” he said.

Still, he believes the crowded Democratic field could benefit GOP contenders – at least in the primary.

“California voters still really aren’t paying that close of attention to the governor’s race,” Rosales said. “Be prepared for something to, to occur or things to kind of shift your way. But the fact is, is that it just is very, very difficult for a Republican against a Democrat in a general election. The more Democratic candidates, the better it is for the Republican candidates.”

MORE: No clear front-runner in race for California governor, new poll shows

Vote-by-mail ballots are set to be delivered in two months, adding pressure to campaigns seeking to break through.

Affordability remains the top issue for voters statewide, but analysts say jobs and the economy – particularly in light of the Bay Area’s AI boom – are likely to be especially important to local voters. Any candidate who crafts a compelling message on these priorities could gain momentum in the final stretch.