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KQED's Forum

Inside California’s Crowded Governor’s Race

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2726 Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

California’s jam-packed governor’s primary may lead to a historic political shakeup this fall. Polls show the two leading Republicans, Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco and political commentator Steve Hilton, could consolidate enough support to lock Democrats out of the November general election. That leaves the crowded field of Democrats — which includes Rep. Eric Swalwell, former congresswoman Katie Porter and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer — scrambling to secure one of the top spots. We’ll break down the major players in this packed race and hear what issues matter most to Californians as they prepare to vote. Guests: Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, Political Breakdown Seema Mehta, politics reporter, Los Angeles Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:55.5

From KQED.

0:58.2

Welcome to Forum.

0:59.7

I'm Mina Kim.

1:00.7

We're less than a month until early voting begins in the June 2nd primary

1:04.2

when we'll determine the final two contenders for California's next governor.

1:09.0

And the field remains very crowded. At least 10 major candidates

1:13.3

are still in the race, eight Democrats and two Republicans. And there's been talk that with so

1:18.6

many Democrats potentially splitting the vote, California's top two primary system, could send two

1:24.5

Republican candidates to the November election. We'll look at the likelihood of that scenario, especially now that the president has endorsed one of the top Republican candidates.

1:33.6

And listeners, do you know who you'll be voting for?

1:36.5

And if not, tell us, why not?

1:39.2

866733-6786 is the number to call.

1:42.7

You can email forum at kQED.org. Or you can find us on Discord, Blue Sky, Facebook, Instagram, or threads at KQED forum.

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