June brings not only finals and graduation for Cal Poly students but also ballots for registered voters in California. The primary election will be held June 2 as eight candidates vie for governor, which will lead the top two to the general election on Nov. 3.
Political science freshman Luna Murray says that she does not know much about the gubernatorial race but needs to learn more.
“I’m from LA, so I want to see better disaster response and better accountability,” Murray said. “That was really eye opening when [the fires] occurred.”
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Eric Swallel, the once front runner for the Democratic party, suspended his campaign on April 12 after allegations of sexual misconduct with Congressional staffers, as previously reported by CalMatters. And on April 20, Betty Yee – former state controller – announced her departure from the race, citing low polling numbers and drops in fundraising as reason for withdrawal, as previously reported by CalMatters.
Six Democrats and two Republicans lead the race.
Xavier Becerra – Democrat
As the son of Mexican-American immigrants, Becerra’s California upbringing led him to serve the state for 35 years as a member of the state Assembly, a U.S. representative, California attorney general and the secretary of health and human services under the Biden administration.
His priorities include standing up to President Trump – he has previously sued the Trump administration 122 times – and creating more affordable avenues for Californians through healthcare, housing and essential needs. Becerra pledges to “stand up to price gouging and unjustified rate hikes, expand help with childcare and essential costs,” according to his website.
Chad Bianco – Republican
Bianco has spent the last 31 years serving in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and places a strong emphasis on neighborhood safety, law enforcement and economic prosperity without fear of crime.
As governor, he would support fundamental education skills such as reading, writing, and math and career-technical education. He wants to secure the border and support lawful immigrant workers through fair pathways while addressing drug addiction through proven successful programs, according to his website.
Steve Hilton – Republican
Before settling in California, Hilton was a strategy advisor to the former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron. As a first-generation American from Hungary, Hilton attended Oxford and grew several businesses, such as his nonprofit, Golden Together.
His top three priorities include great jobs — reducing taxes for workers, great homes — building more housing and curtailing anti-housing regulations such as vehicle miles traveled taxes from CARB and great kids — ensuring students meet education standards and restoring parent’s power to force change within the school system, according to his website.
Matt Mahan – Democrat
Currently mayor of San Jose, Mahan was raised in Watsonville before attending Bellarmine College Prep and Harvard University. He is invested in creating affordable housing, ensuring public safety, ending homelessness, protecting agriculture and California’s water supply and suspending the gas tax to alleviate prices.
Modeling a successful implementation of Prop 36 — offenders with a minimum of two drug possession convictions can receive treatment instead of prison time — in San Diego, Mahan wants to reduce the strain of drugs in California. Mahan states, “we shouldn’t have to choose between a dangerous MAGA agenda or the same path of funding failure by throwing more money at our problems with no accountability,” according to his website.
Katie Porter – Democrat
As a former U.S. Representative, representing parts of Orange County, and a current law professor at UC Irvine, Porter is rooted in defending healthcare from Trump’s attacks by fighting federal funding cuts, expanding economic opportunities that help families tackle inflation and providing sustainable good paying union jobs.
She wants to provide free childcare for all and prepare California for any natural disaster. “She’s a mom who’s invested in our kid’s future – and actually knows the price of groceries,” according to her website.
Tom Steyer – Democrat
Steyer was once a billionaire entrepreneur before signing The Giving Pledge and donating a vast majority of his wealth. As a cofounder of Beneficial State Bank, his priorities include making corporations pay a fair share, building affordable homes and lowering electricity costs by breaking up utility monopolies, providing free education from Pre-K to college, stopping masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and defending the environment.
Steyer places a strong emphasis on technology by ensuring that Artificial Intelligence does not replace creative jobs, data centers do not cost families and social media is banned for all kids under 16 years, according to his website.
Tony Thurmond – Democrat
As superintendent of public instruction, Thurmond has a history in social work and public service. He was raised in Philadelphia by his cousin and received two masters from Bryn Mawr College while working at McDonalds to make ends meet.
Thurmond says he “understands how hard it is for workers to get by but also get ahead,” according to his website. He has no dedicated priorities tab on his website; however, his launch video states that he wants to raise minimum wage, create more affordable rent, increase pay for teachers and provide safer neighborhoods.
Antonio Villaraigosa – Democrat
Beyond acting as the former mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa has dedicated his life to civil rights, standing up to Trump, building affordable housing and energy, and holding ICE accountable.
He wants to protect consumers and foster innovation by allowing Americans to use cryptocurrency. Following a rewarding model in Norway, Villaraigosa will lower gas prices by supporting in-state oil and gas production and capping gas for working families. He states, “I don’t run from tough problems. I solve them. That’s what I’ll do as governor,” according to his website.
Journalism freshman Zoe Jamali said that she would be more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate.
“I’m just not as involved as I feel like I should be,” Jamali said. “I would like the new governor to be able to settle debates with the president and other states. I want the country to establish a better relationship as a whole.”
Ozzy Pidd, a marine science freshman, wants the new governor to address the housing crisis, create more resources for minorities, reduce carbon emissions and provide better support for mental health issues. He plans to vote in the upcoming primary.
“I think there is a lack of resources for mental health issues in the state,” Pidd said. “Also, any efforts to reduce housing prices would be great. I do care about politics. It matters to me as a person.”
