Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Democratic Party are suddenly facing a scenario they did not expect: two Republicans rising to the top of the 2026 California governor race.
Recent polling and political analysis suggest there is a real possibility that two Republican candidates could advance to the November ballot in California’s unique top-two primary system. If that happens, it would reshape the entire political landscape of the state.
Why is this happening?
California’s open primary means every candidate appears on the same ballot, and only the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. With a crowded Democratic field splitting votes across multiple candidates, Republican candidates like Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton suddenly have a path to the top.
Political insiders and analysts are warning that Democratic vote splitting could create a situation where Republicans dominate the top of the ballot in the June primary.
That possibility has sparked panic and pressure inside California Democratic circles, with party leadership urging candidates to reconsider their campaigns in order to consolidate support. If two Republicans make the ballot, it would be one of the biggest political surprises in California in decades.
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