CA-GOV 2026: Kounalakis (D) announces

[wbrocks67]

https://twitter.com/politico/status/1650487672350334977

[Duke of York]

I think she could very well win especially announcing this early.

[Sir Mohamed]

Pretty early. In line with Newsom, who declared in February 2025 already.

Reserving a judgement so soon. I'd be open to vote for her, but let's talk again in 2.5 or 3 years and see who else comes forward.

[Woody]

Kounalakis vs Garcia would be a redux of the NY 2022 election.

[Suburbia]

She's not going to win.

[Ragnaroni]

Funnily enough, for a super progressive, somewhat diverse state. California has only had straight white men for governors...

[oldtimer]

Funnily enough, for a super progressive, somewhat diverse state. California has only had straight white men for governors...

Because the super progressive group is overwhelmingly White.

Though progressives have better luck with Black candidates for tribal reasons.

[Zedonathin2020]

Today I learned that she looks up to John Delaney on when to announce a campaign.

[brucejoel99]

Today I learned that she looks up to John Delaney on when to announce a campaign.

Newsom declared for 2018 on Day 38 of Brown's 2015-19 term.

[Ragnaroni]

Funnily enough, for a super progressive, somewhat diverse state. California has only had straight white men for governors...

Because the super progressive group is overwhelmingly White.

Though progressives have better luck with Black candidates for tribal reasons.

That is true but a lot of minorities in CA are just as progressive as whites.

[President Johnson]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

[Duke of York]

She's not going to win.

why do you say that?

[Skill and Chance]

She could plausibly lose in a Biden midterm.

[Kabam]

Launching my campaign for 2038.

[Duke of York]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

[I’m not Stu]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

It isn't hard to see her losing. There might be two Democratic nominees.

[President Johnson]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

It isn't hard to see her losing. There might be two Democratic nominees.

Possible, though unlike in senate races, in every gubernatorial election since the adoption of the jungle primary a Republican made it to the November ballot (however in 2014 and 2022 there was a Democratic incumbent running for reelection without serious inner party opposition).

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Luckily this thread was posted cause this headline is pretty far down on the LA Times and other news sites across the state.


Eh. I hope other Dems don't get scared off into running. I'm not enthused by her or her running in any way.

[DrScholl]

Might be an all Democratic top two. There is no doubt she would win a Democratic vs. Republican top two, but the question is if she makes the top two against another Democratic or wins a general versus another Democrat. She won't clear the field and at this point she's a fairly undefined entity that won't deter other Democrats from running for an open seat. Pretty much she spent herself into the Lt. Governor's office against another low name recognition Democrat in 2018.

[Skill and Chance]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

It isn't hard to see her losing. There might be two Democratic nominees.

Possible, though unlike in senate races, in every gubernatorial election since the adoption of the jungle primary a Republican made it to the November ballot (however in 2014 and 2022 there was a Democratic incumbent running for reelection without serious inner party opposition).

Yes, the whole "CA jungle primary = impending Solid South style D vs. D GEs for everything statewide" idea really hasn't materialized.  So far it's just been 2016-SEN, 2018-SEN, and 2018-LG that have been Dem only GEs, and that appears to have been the local Dem peak in CA. 

[I’m not Stu]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

It isn't hard to see her losing. There might be two Democratic nominees.

Possible, though unlike in senate races, in every gubernatorial election since the adoption of the jungle primary a Republican made it to the November ballot (however in 2014 and 2022 there was a Democratic incumbent running for reelection without serious inner party opposition).

Yes, the whole "CA jungle primary = impending Solid South style D vs. D GEs for everything" idea really hasn't materialized.

The Solid South was different, because it wasn't a democracy. The GOP is just unpopular in California. The Solid South didn't exist because Republicans were unpopular, it existed only because of disenfranchisement.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

The other two candidates that have expressed interest are the state treasurer Fiona Ma and former state controller Betty Yee, so what are the chances that it's majority female candidates on the D side?

[Skill and Chance]

Seems too early, who's paying attention to 2026 gubernatorial election other than political nerds? However, she'd make a good governor I assume. I'm fairly confident she makes it to the November election then.

If she's the Democratic nominee its hard to see her losing.

It isn't hard to see her losing. There might be two Democratic nominees.

Possible, though unlike in senate races, in every gubernatorial election since the adoption of the jungle primary a Republican made it to the November ballot (however in 2014 and 2022 there was a Democratic incumbent running for reelection without serious inner party opposition).

Yes, the whole "CA jungle primary = impending Solid South style D vs. D GEs for everything" idea really hasn't materialized.

The Solid South was different, because it wasn't a democracy. The GOP is just unpopular in California. The Solid South didn't exist because Republicans were unpopular, it existed only because of disenfranchisement.

That's absolutely true.  I meant it only in the primary as a GE "tantamount to election" context.

[brucejoel99]

The other two candidates that have expressed interest are the state treasurer Fiona Ma and former state controller Betty Yee, so what are the chances that it's majority female candidates on the D side?

Low:

LG:

https://twitter.com/catargetalt/status/1613214364668170240
(A backtrack from her post-2018 announcement for Gov. 2026)

Treasurer:

https://twitter.com/catargetalt/status/1506421753983090688
(A backtrack from her post-2018 announcement for Gov. 2026)

Bonta may yet convert his AG account into a gubernatorial account, & Becerra has been rumored to not wanna lead HHS into the 2nd term (if there's one) so that he can return home in time for CA-GOV 2026; consider a potential Khanna gubernatorial run too, & it may very well end up being a majority-male field with Eleni being the most-notable woman.

[Holmes]

Who?