The List of Candiates For The Democratic Primary In California, For Governor

I looked at the primary list....for early 2026:

- Ethan Agarwal, tech entrepreneur, an UNKNOWN

- Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–2025) and former Attorney General of California (2017–2021). Fairly well known in the state.

- Carolina Buhler, UCLA student. Total UNKNOWN

3.  Ian Calderon, former majority leader of the California Assembly (2016–2020) from the 57th district (2012–2020).  Mostly UNKNOWN

4.  Stephen Cloobeck, founder of Diamond Resorts.  Mostly UNKNOWN

5.  Zoltan Istvan, founder of the Transhumanist Party, Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018, and Republican candidate for president in 2020.  UNKNOWN

6. Thunder Parley, software engineer.  UNKNOWN

7.  Katie Porter, former U.S. representative from California's 47th congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024.  Has name-status, KNOWN, but considered a bit flaky.

8.  Raji Rab, pilot and perennial candidate.  Maybe known by 10-percent of the state.

9.  Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2019–present).  UNKOWN.

10.  Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018.  Highly known.  

11.  Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023).  Known, but unlikely to draw more than 2-percent of the votes.

So here is the odd way this is playing out.  There's a 12th player talking about running....current California  Senator....Alex Padilla, U.S. senator (2021–present). 

Porter and Villaraigosa....appear destined to win, and advance.  There's some  feeling that both Porter and Villaraigosa are in trouble, and would lose....in a situation where  the Republican is Steve Hilton.  Becerra instead of Villaraigosa?  That also appears to hurt, instead of helping.

Padilla a wild-card?  Yeah.  He'd basically run to get the Hispanic vote....step down as Senator, and  in some wild way....Newsom might appoint himself into the seat.

All of this theater-stuff.....just to get Newsom in DC?  Yeah....an odd show.