Eight California governor candidates pitch to Democratic voters

Hopefuls had just 4 minutes each to make their case at state party convention

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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At the California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco, eight major candidates for governor took the stage to pitch their campaigns to thousands of party faithful. The crowded field of Democrats vied to establish their relatability, with many sharing personal stories of hardship, and unleashed a barrage of anti-Trump rhetoric. While no candidate secured the 60% support needed for the party's endorsement, the event marked a rare moment of campaign heat in a race that has remained largely low-key so far.

Why it matters

The California governor's race has lacked a clear frontrunner, and the party convention provided a high-profile platform for the candidates to make their case to a key Democratic voting bloc ahead of the June primary. The event highlighted the ideological and stylistic differences between the contenders as they compete for the party's nomination.

The details

The eight candidates who spoke at the convention were former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Controller Betty Yee, Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Rep. Katie Porter, former Assemblyman Ian Calderon, and billionaire Tom Steyer. They each had less than 4 minutes to pitch their campaigns, with many emphasizing their personal backgrounds and experiences with hardship. The candidates also engaged in some implicit jabs at each other, with Thurmond appearing to criticize Porter, Swalwell, and Steyer over various policy positions. Porter made headlines by holding up a whiteboard and leading the crowd in a profane chant against former President Trump.

  • The California Democratic Party convention took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026 in San Francisco.

The players

Antonio Villaraigosa

Former mayor of Los Angeles.

Tony Thurmond

California Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Betty Yee

Former California State Controller.

Eric Swalwell

U.S. Representative for California's 15th congressional district.

Xavier Becerra

Former California Attorney General and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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What they’re saying

“His attacks on our schools, our healthcare and his politics of fear and bullying has to stop now.”

— Antonio Villaraigosa, Former Mayor of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times)

“Together, we're going to kick Trump's ass in November.”

— Katie Porter, U.S. Representative (Los Angeles Times)

“You're not going to vote for a Democrat who voted for the border wall, are you?”

— Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The candidates will continue campaigning ahead of the June 2 primary election, where the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.

The takeaway

The California governor's race remains wide open, with no clear frontrunner emerging from the crowded field of Democratic candidates. The party convention provided a rare moment of campaign energy, as the contenders sought to distinguish themselves and appeal to the party's base ahead of the primary.