California governor race crystallizes into a two-tier contest led by Porter, Swalwell, and Steyer

Public Policy Institute of California’s poll shows the governor’s race broken into two tiers: Porter, Swalwell, and Steyer lead the Democratic field with double‑digit support while other Democrats trail; Becerra has faded as Swalwell and Steyer gained momentum, and Matt Mahan has joined late to seek consolidation. On the Republican side, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco remain in the top five. Although a Democrat is still viewed as the likely winner in 2026, the race remains fluid with no clear frontrunner and broad calls for field consolidation; about 61% of voters say they’re satisfied with their choices.