Until she decided not to run, former Vice President Kamala Harris had loomed over the race as a likely favorite. Now, a host of hopefuls are jockeying for advantage.

Democrats remain favored to hold the seat now occupied by term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a state where Republicans have not won a statewide election in nearly two decades.

With Kamala Harris opting out of the 2026 race for governor of California, attention now turns to the remaining announced Democratic candidates in the field in this overwhelmingly Democratic state.