California’s Very Odd Election Year Starts with Republicans Possibly Leading the Governor’s Race

California’s very odd election year starts with Republicans possibly leading the governor’s race

The 2026 campaigns for governor, a raft of other statewide offices, 52 congressional seats and 100 slots in the state Legislature officially begin today with the onset of candidate filing. It could be one of the oddest election cycles in California’s 175 years as a state, albeit one that puts the state’s convoluted politics in the national spotlight. There are so many Democrats running for governor that it’s theoretically possible for a Republic…

The 2026 election cycle could be one of the oddest in California's history

There are so many Democrats running for governor that it’s theoretically possible for a Republican to win, despite the state’s deeply blue profile.

Republicans Could Seize Advantage In California Governor's Race If Too Many Democrats Run

We're about to enter one of the kookiest election years in California's 175-year history, with a bevy of Congressional seats up for grabs, and a wide open governor's race that already has too many Democrats in it.It's looking like the coming winter and spring will bring plenty of drama and infighting among California Democrats, who in a normal year would likely be duking it out for two primary slots in the governor's race — with the state doing …

California's very odd election year starts with Republicans possibly leading the governor's race

The 2026 campaigns for governor, a raft of other statewide offices, 52 congressional seats and 100 slots in the state Legislature officially begin today with the onset of candidate filing. It could be one of the oddest election cycles in California’s 175 years as a state, albeit one that puts the state’s convoluted politics in the national spotlight. There are so many Democrats running for governor that it’s theoretically possible for a Republic…

CA's Very Odd Election Year Starts With Republicans Possibly Leading Governor’s Race

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Dan Walters CalMatters Opinion The 2026 campaigns for governor, a raft of other statewide offices, 52 congressional seats and 100 slots in the state Legislature officially begin today with the onset of candidate filing. It could be one of the oddest election cycles in California’s 175 years as a state, albeit one that puts the state’s convoluted politics in t…