Mail-in ballots have started arriving for California residents, but some confusion seems to linger.
Familiar names like Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, and Katie Porter are making headlines as voters ponder who to push forward to the November election.
Yet, when voters actually open their ballots, they may be taken aback by the lengthy list of 61 candidates vying for the governorship. It’s significant—61 candidates spanning two pages and five columns in the voter guide.
“That’s an incredibly high number. It’s honestly too much,” remarked Eric McGee, policy director and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, in a conversation with the California Post. “Having so many candidates on the ballot isn’t ideal.”
The California jungle primary takes place on June 2, and the top two candidates, irrespective of party affiliation, will progress to a runoff in November. However, most coverage tends to zero in on just a handful of candidates—maybe eight to ten.
Interestingly, Eric Swalwell and Betty Yee withdrew from the race amid sexual assault allegations, but their names remain on the ballot because the deadline for removal had passed.
A significant number of politically motivated individuals with minimal support—only a few thousand—are also listed among the candidates, whereas others boast at least a 3% approval rating in preliminary polls. This is enough to secure a place on the ballot.
“Essentially, you just need the financial means or a considerable amount of signatures,” McGee explained.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered voters, and free of certain felony convictions, but the qualifications to get on the ballot aren’t overly restrictive.
To participate in the first round, candidates have to pay an application fee of $4,918.58, which amounts to 2% of their first-year salary, or alternatively collect 6,000 valid signatures by February 4, 2026.
Even after paying the fee, candidates still need to gather between 65 to 100 signatures from registered California voters.
“Courts have established limits to ensure filing isn’t prohibitively expensive, but having 60 candidates complicates things for voters who are trying to find their preferred option,” McGee pointed out, highlighting that previous primaries, such as the ones in 2022 and 2018, saw fewer than 25 candidates.
Some lesser-known candidates make themselves stand out in unique ways. For instance, “The Barack D. Obama Show” is hard to miss due to its name’s resemblance to the former president.
The candidate, Shaw, identifies as a “politician, musician, and promoter of top-notch products and services.” He encourages voters, stating, “If the existing candidates don’t resonate with you, consider voting for The Barack D. Obama Show,” in one of his Instagram videos, which has around 300 followers.
Additionally, there’s “Living for God and Country DeMott,” who promotes himself as a candidate dedicated to faith and integrity. His campaign website suggests a strong commitment to the people of California.
He even shared that his legal name is LivingForGod, stating, “Living a life reflecting Jesus Christ’s good character is my guiding principle. Success built on deception resembles constructing a castle atop sand.”
Interestingly, the name a candidate presents in their declaration is what will appear on the ballot. However, candidates can utilize initials and common nicknames, provided they pair them with their registered surname. Using professional titles or degrees is prohibited.
McGee mentioned he hadn’t seen this type of situation before, but it’s likely to confuse voters. “Finding candidates that people truly want to pick is growing more challenging,” he stated.
The order of candidate names on the ballot isn’t alphabetical; California law mandates a randomized alphabet system. Eighty-two days prior to the election, the Secretary of State draws letters to determine the order. For instance, if the last names are Anderson and Brown, the first letter of the randomized alphabet resolves who gets the top listing.
“The combination of numerous candidates and the randomized order adds another layer of confusion,” McGee elaborated. “Sixty candidates create noise, making it difficult for voters to identify their preferred candidate.”
Additionally, candidates must list their occupation alongside their name and party affiliation on the ballot.
At present, all 61 candidates are set to compete in the general election, even if they aren’t the most recognized names.
“Achieving a notable status as a candidate typically requires substantial fundraising, and for individuals like Tom Steyer, having personal financial resources is key. Connections in the political realm can also foster visibility and media coverage,” McGee noted.
“It’s all about gaining attention, which is a much taller order than just being listed on the ballot.”
Below is a list of the candidates appearing on the ballot:
- Akinyemi Agbede: Democratic Party | Mathematician
- Derek Glasty: Democratic Party | District Councilor/Educator
- Don J. Grundman: No Party Hope | Chiropractic Doctor
- Dawit Kerer: No Party Wish | Father
- Anne Komarovsk: No Party Request | Communications Officer
- Gary Howard Kigel: Democratic Party | Architectural Consultant
- Sophia Edam A Sam: Democratic Party | Project Manager
- Mauro Alberto Orozco: No Party Request | Small Business Owner
- Barack D Obama Show: Democratic Party | Business Owner
- Antonio Villaraigosa: Democratic Party | Housing Affordability Champion
- Margaret Trow: No Party Request | Hotel Employee
- Tony K. Thurmond: Democrat | California Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Thunder Pearly: Democratic Party | Market Analyst
- Katie Porter: Democratic Party | Consumer Protection Advocate
- Tom Woodard: Libertarian | Retired CEO
- Leo Samuel Zacky: Republican | Farmer/Businessman/Broadcaster
- Erin “Zez” Zezlak: Democratic Party | Consultant/Nurse/Businesswoman
- David Zigfoos: Republican Party | Real Estate Investor
- Amanda Martin: No Party Hope | Mother/Architect/Entrepreneur
- Matt Mahan: Democratic Party | Mayor of San Jose
- Brent Maupin: No Party Desire | Civil Engineer
- Daniel Mercury: No Party Hope | Father/Writer/Businessman
- Betty T. Yee: Democratic Party | Care Navigator
- Nancy D. Young: No Party Desire | CEO/Businessman/Pastor
- Alicia Olivia Rap: Republican Party | (No ballot specified)
- Matthew Chase Levy: Democratic Party | Entrepreneur/Physicist
- Duane Terence Loins Jr.: No Party Request | (No Ballot Specified)
- Randeep S. Dhillon: Republican Party | Economist/Farmer/Businessman
- Living for God and Country DeMott: No Party Desire | Logistics Specialist/Pastor
- Patricia de Luca Basuardo: Republican Party | Real Estate Broker
- Luis A. de Balaiqua: Democratic Party | Teacher/Business Manager
- Raj Love: Democratic Party | Aviator/Educator/Entrepreneur
- Satish Rao: Democratic Party | Professor
- Ramsey Robinson: Peace and Freedom | School Social Worker
- Lewis Harms: No Party Request | (No Ballot Specified)
- Rafael M. Hernandez: Republican | Businessman/Songwriter/Author
- John Henderson: No Party Request | Business Owner
- Steve Hilton: Republican | Small Business Owner
- Naomi Barlev: No Party Desire | Musician/Manager/Writer
- Xavier Becerra: Democratic Party | Voting Rights Lawyer
- Carolina Buehler: Democratic Party | Civil Rights Activist
- Chad Bianco: Republican | Riverside County Sheriff
- Joseph Cabrera: No Party Request | Business Manager
- Elaine Culotti: No Party Hope | Entrepreneur/Farmer/Developer
- Joel E. Jacob: Democratic Party | Business Owner/Entrepreneur
- Max Fomin: No Desire for Party | Manager/Father
- Łukasz Adam Filinski: No Party Wish | Father
- Serge Fianquin: No Party Wish | Real Estate Broker
- Leo Naranjo IV: Republican | Retired Sgt.
- Tim Nelson: Republican Party | Diplomat/Defender
- Tom Steyer: Democratic Party | Climate Change Advocate
- Eric Swalwell: Democratic Party | United States Representative
- Scott P. Shields: Democratic Party | Chief Executive Officer
- Frederick C. Schulz: No Party Hope | Human Rights Lawyer
- Christine R. Sarmiento: No Request for Party | Public Health Nurse
- Reza Safarnejad: No Party Request | Small Business Owner
- Sam Sandak: No Party Hope | Filmmaker
- Greta Solorzano: Republican | Retired Nuclear Engineer
- James Athans Jr.: Republican Party | Real Estate Agent
- Larry Azevedo: Democratic Party | Businessman
- Mohammad Arif: Democratic Party | Immigration Organizer
