The next governor of California may be a billionaire who has poured more than $200 million of his own money into the race. It could also end up being a Biden-era Cabinet secretary running without his former boss’s endorsement. Or a former Fox News personality backed by President Donald Trump. 

In a state synonymous with Democratic leadership, the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom has become one of the stranger primaries of the year — a contest defined as much by who chose not to run as by those who did.

“It’s one of the craziest races I’ve seen,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, said. “What a ride.” 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris decided against a campaign, as did the state’s senior senator, Alex Padilla. Their decisions left an open race for one of the most difficult jobs in American politics — potential budget woes loom as a major issue for whoever is leading the state from Sacramento this time next year — in a campaign that has seen several major shifts.

Former Rep. Katie Porter, an Orange County Democrat once prominent on Capitol Hill, has struggled under scrutiny. This spring, then-Rep. Eric Swalwell appeared to be gaining ground, only to end his gubernatorial bid in April and resign from Congress shortly after over sexual misconduct allegations.

Around 60 candidates filed to run for governor, including Xavier Becerra, a longtime former Democratic congressman who served as secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden, and Tom Steyer, the billionaire and former 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful. On the Republican side, Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, has won Trump’s endorsement. 

“Kamala Harris is a giant and when she passed, and when Padilla passed, I think it just scrambled the field,” said Khanna, who is supporting Steyer. “Because a lot of people were expecting one of them to run, so I think that created a chaotic environment.” 

Neither Newsom, Harris nor Padilla have endorsed a candidate — decisions that underscore just how unsettled the crowded field remains for the state’s more than 23 million voters. 

“It’s almost been like this process of elimination, where we’re left with two people that I don’t think anyone viewed as potential front runners on the Democrat side: Steyer and Becerra,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent and former Republican who is supporting Hilton. 

California’s primary system means that the top two finishers in the governor race Tuesday advance to the November general election regardless of their party — a dynamic that, in theory, could produce candidates from the same party.  

A common complaint during campaign season is the flood of political advertising, but the tactic is one that Steyer is leaning heavily on and vastly surpassing his opponents in, according to data from AdImpact. One campaign video from Steyer’s effort ticks through his advocacy work and use of his wealth before saying, “Tom Steyer is not afraid. He answers to no one.” 

“For anybody to have a serious chance to win for governor, they have to have high name ID, they have to have a lot of money, or some combination of the two, and that kind of limits the field a little bit,” said Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., who has endorsed Porter’s governor run. 

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Hunter Woodall

Hunter Woodall covers politics for MS NOW. He’s reported on politics and presidential campaigns for The Associated Press and CBS News and reported on Congress for The Minnesota Star Tribune.