With the stakes so high and the polls in a virtual tie among the top five poll rankings, it might be wise to focus on the top five most likely to succeed in June [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-25/california-governors-race-wealth-tax-congress-ppic-poll]. Two of the five are Republicans, so the less said about them the better.
The three Democrats in the top five are Katie Porter, Eric Swallwell, and Tom Steyer and in a near tie. The other Dems, though some are very attractive candidates, only score poll ratings in the single digits. So let’s take a look at our top three in alphabetical order.
Here are some resources to help you compare the top three (in alphabetical order).
Katie Porter
Katie’s Campaign Website: https://katieporter.com/
What she said at CADEM: https://katieporter.com/2026/02/katie-porter-breaks-out-her-whiteboard-with-a-message-for-trump-vision-for-california/
Priorities: https://katieporter.com/priorities/
Healthcare: Supports CalCare https://www.facebook.com/reel/2347225699113196
Key endorsements: Senator Elizabeth Warren
Other Resources: Katie Porter at the Santa Monica Democratic Club https://santamonicademocrats.com/watch-our-january-meeting/
Tom Steyer
Tom’s Campaign Website: https://www.tomsteyer.com/
What he said at Cadem: https://www.tomsteyer.com/press/new-tom-steyer-delivers-barn-burning-populist-address-at-cadem-convention
Healthcare: Supports Calcare https://www.facebook.com/calnurses/posts/were-endorsing-tom-steyer-for-california-governor-because-he-supports%EF%B8%8F-national-/1386120666875726/
Key Endorsements: California Nurses Association, Climate Activist Bill McKibben, Assembly Member Alex Lee, Congressional Representative Tom Steyer and many others listed on his website
Eric Swalwell
Eric’s Campaign Website https://www.ericswalwell.com/
What he said at CADEM: He referred to Trump as “the worst president ever” and spoke of the Trump battles he’s fought against Trump in Congress and in the courts.
Priorities: https://www.ericswalwell.com/issues
Healthcare: Speaks of “strengthening healthcare”
Key Endorsements: Include a long list of Congressional colleagues including Representatives Ted Lieu and former colleague Senator Adam Schiff also the California Medical Association (the doctors, not the nurses) and the California Professional Firefighters Association