The 2026 election year will be especially significant for California because nearly all major state leadership positions will be on the ballot. Voters will choose every statewide constitutional officer including Insurance Commissioner, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and others—at a time when several incumbents, including the Governor and Treasurer, are term-limited and unable to run again.
Previously announced gubernatorial candidates include former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, current Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Assemblymember Ian Calderon, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Controller Betty Yee, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, entrepreneur Steve Hilton, Representative Eric Swalwell and businessman Tom Steyer. Attorney General Rob Bonta is again considering running after previously stating he would not seek the Governor’s office at this time.
Projected turnover in the California Legislature appears lower than in the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, when half of all seats changed hands over two cycles. Currently, six senators are termed out, and one is leaving to run for a local office. In the Assembly, seven members are termed out, five are seeking other offices, and one has announced they will not pursue further elected office. As of now, legislators eligible for re-election have not announced any plans to run for Congress following the passage of Proposition 50.
PIFC will conduct candidate interviews in open and competitive senate and assembly seats in March 2026. During the interview process, the PIFC Board, PIFPAC Board, and PIFPAC Membership Committee are invited to participate. Candidates may also meet one-on-one with PIFC Political Director, Caylyn Wright, as well as participate in a group meet-and-greet with the coalition of business organizations PIFC works with. Additionally, we always appreciate feedback from PIFPAC members on which candidates they like in their local district and take this feedback into account when making decisions. Once the candidates receive an endorsement, PIFPAC will send out our Endorsed Candidate Guide to all PIFPAC members prior to the June primary election.
