Former LA Mayor Villaraigosa Announces 2026 California Governor Run

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Former Los Angeles Mayor and California Assembly speaker Antonio Villaraigosa has announced he is running for California governor in 2026. Villaraigosa, who previously ran for governor in 2018, says the state needs an experienced leader who can work across the aisle to address key issues like public safety, housing and homelessness, and affordability.

Why it matters

Villaraigosa is a well-known figure in California politics, having served as mayor of Los Angeles and in the state Assembly. His 2026 gubernatorial run could shake up the race and provide voters with an experienced, bipartisan candidate focused on pragmatic solutions to the state's challenges.

The details

Villaraigosa, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, overcame a troubled youth to graduate from UCLA and become a longtime union organizer and civil liberties advocate. As mayor of LA, he touted decreases in violent crime and increases in graduation rates. In the state Assembly, he says he 'worked with both parties to balance the state budget, with record investments in education and public safety, while holding the line on taxes.'

• Villaraigosa previously ran for California governor in 2018.
• He is announcing his 2026 gubernatorial run at a Commonwealth Club event on February 12, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Villaraigosa will continue campaigning for the 2026 California gubernatorial election, with the primary election scheduled for June 2026 and the general election in November 2026.