Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-CA) potential gubernatorial run has injected a new variable into the Golden State’s political equation, and has “quickly gained traction with one group in particular: Sacramento insiders who have known Padilla for years and see him as someone they can work with,” Politico reports.

“The 2026 contest is California’s most competitive governor’s race in decades, and many Democrats are still searching for an alternative to former Rep. Katie Porter, who rose to prominence with her sharp questioning of corporate executives and government officials in Washington and is viewed by some as too progressive.”

“The rumor mill is hitting overdrive that Sen. Alex Padilla is contemplating a bid for California governor — and it’s not just idle talk,” Politico reports.

“A prominent political entity in Sacramento is currently in the field polling the 2026 governor’s race with Padilla’s name included as a potential candidate.”

CNN: “As Harris deliberates on whether she should run for governor or hold out for another potential presidential bid, California Democrats are quietly asking themselves the same question. Her critics say that while she would be a favorite to win the governor’s race in a deep-blue state, possible ambivalence about her candidacy could hurt Democratic chances in swing districts as the party tries to retake the U.S. House.”

“Some top donors and interest group leaders insist that Harris will have to answer for former President Joe Biden, whose decision to run for reelection before making way for her remains a sore subject for Democrats, and whether Harris could have done more to prevent President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.”

Kamala Harris is leaning toward entering the California gubernatorial race, The Hill reports.

New York Times: “Ever since Ms. Harris returned home to California in January after losing last year’s presidential race, Democrats have wondered whether she would run for governor in 2026. Her entry would shake up the race, and many observers believe she would be the front-runner. But she has made few public appearances and offered little indication of which way she is leaning.”

“Her absence from the hall in Anaheim this weekend loomed over the state party convention like the pair of large video screens that carried her message. And that left many party activists questioning just how seriously she was considering running.”

Washington Post: As Kamala Harris weighs a run for governor, some Democrats are moving on.

“California Republicans love to hate Kamala Harris. And they’d really love her to run for governor,” Politico reports.

“Republicans are exceedingly unlikely to win a governor’s race in the deep-blue state. But Harris’s possible entry is already bringing GOP candidates tactical benefits, allowing them to run against a high-profile adversary who’s likely to energize donors and the conservative rank-and-file.”

“The Democratic finger-pointing set off by a buzzy new book on former President Joe Biden’s declining fitness during his presidency is now sloshing into the California governor’s race,” Politico reports.

“Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, tore into two other home state Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris and former health Secretary Xavier Becerra — after the Tuesday release of Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, accusing the two Biden administration officials of being complicit in a ‘cover up’ about the then-president’s mental acuity.”

Politics ain’t beanbag.

A new Emerson College poll in California finds Kamala Harris (D) leading a possible primary for governor with 31%, followed by Katie Porter (D) at 8% and Chad Bianco (R) at 4%. Thirty-nine percent are undecided.

However, voters are split on whether or not Harris should run for governor: 50% say the former Vice President should not run, and 50% think she should.

“Xavier Becerra, the former health secretary under President Joe Biden, is joining the burgeoning field to be California’s next governor — regardless of whether Kamala Harris seeks the post,” Politico reports.

“The California governor’s race isn’t waiting for former Vice President Kamala Harris to make up her mind whether she’s going to run,” CNN reports.

“Former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who represented Orange County in the US House for three terms, announced Tuesday she’s entering the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited from running again.”

A new Emerson College poll in California finds 57% of Democratic primary voters would support former Vice President Kamala Harris if she ran for Governor.

The next closest competitor is former Rep. Katie Porter follows at 9%.

“Top aides and people close to Kamala Harris have divided over whether she should head home to run for California governor in 2026 — and it all comes down to whether they believe she could win the Democratic nomination for president in an expected competitive primary in 2028,” CNN reports.

“Some believe a repeat run, after quickly improving her reputation and raising more than $1 billion over her surprise 100-day race, should be hers for the taking. Others worry that in a longer campaign, against some of the other major Democratic contenders who already sat out 2024 in deference first to Joe Biden and then to her, Harris might fizzle out and follow her loss to Donald Trump with the humiliation of being rejected by her own party.”

“The contest to succeed Gavin Newsom in the nation’s biggest, bluest state is already turning bitter. And it’s still more than two years away,” Politico reports.

“California’s gubernatorial sweepstakes are well underway in a stampede for early blessings from powerful insiders, scheming among the growing field of contenders and hushed conversations with major donors.”

“The tortuous path to 2026 — when Newsom’s term ends — started last year and is among the longest-running electoral battles in America given the immense challenge of nurturing a statewide profile. It’s also a revealing snapshot of California in the 21st century: Candidates are engaged in a race to the left where all of the competition is in the Democratic Party, no political giants are lying in wait and none of the candidates have more than a regional base of support.”

“California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) on Monday launched her campaign to become the first woman governor of the nation’s most populous state, pushing out ahead of what’s expected to be a sprawling field in 2026,” Politico reports.

“Kounalakis will open a campaign committee for governor and immediately start raising money and building her nascent public profile for the distant election.”

Politico: “Newsom’s chances of winning reelection against a massively underfunded Republican are so assured, he’s barely bothered to mention it.”

“Instead, he’s been focused on abortion rights, boosting fellow Democratic candidates, and combating what he sees as the rising tide of Republican extremism on the national stage.”

“Sliding into a second term might be good for Newsom, but it could be bad for the party. The lack of a competitive race at the top of the ticket could mean low turnout — an unwelcome prospect for Democrats running in critical, closely-contested congressional races in Orange County and the Central Valley.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has rebuilt his campaign war chest after last year’s recall election and is now sitting on nearly $25 million and is facing no real competition, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“After a Republican-led effort to recall him plummeted to defeat in September, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s prospects of gliding into a second term in 2022 appear as golden as the $23 million he has socked away for his reelection campaign,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“Newsom is all but alone on the public stage with just six months to go before the June statewide primary, a testament to his dominating win in September and perhaps reflective of a postelection hangover among those who tried to oust him. Though a few of the Republicans who tried unsuccessfully to unseat Newsom in the recall said they would consider challenging the governor’s reelection, those opposition campaigns remain dormant for now.”

“At this point in the last race for California governor, the field of candidates was wide and two debates had been staged.”

Polls close in California’s recall election at 11 p.m. ET.

New York Times: “Depending on the number of early ballots and the amount of in-person voting on Tuesday, the math could be clear within a few hours of when the polls close, election experts say. But if the race is tighter than expected, weeks could pass while the counting drags on.”

As the votes come in, leave your reaction in the comments.