California Governor's Race

California Governor's Race — Lantern Podcasts
  • 1.0 (6)
  • Politics
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California Governor's Race is a daily briefing on the 2026 election and the California governor contest. Each episode breaks down candidate backgrounds, campaign strategy, fundraising and polling, with close reads of debates and policy choices shaping California politics. We map Gavin Newsom's role and the paths of challengers across the gubernatorial race, explaining what fundraising reports and legal fights mean for voters. Episodes deliver on-the-ground recaps of campaign events, debate takeaways and interviews with strategists, plus clear explainers of ballot rules and voter impact in the California governor race. This podcast is for voters, reporters and news consumers following the 2026 election who want clear context on polling trends and the forces that will decide the next governor.

  1. 9h ago

    California’s Governor Race Meets the Limits of Big Money

    California governor race spending records show primary money flooded around Steyer, Becerra, Hilton and others, while post-primary analysis asks whether saturation ads can still beat party structure and name ID in a state this vast. In this episode: Top stories: 1. June 2026 Primary Election | FPPC — Fair Political Practices Commission https://www.fppc.ca.gov/search-filings/top-10-contributors-list/june-2026-primary-election 2. New poll shows Steyer edging Hilton in CA governor's race as battle for 2nd tightens — ABC7 News Bay Area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ksza2XrSG0 3. Step Back: California’s governor’s race is seeing huge spending and rich candidates, but for most voters it just looks like a blizzard of ads and mailers — in a state this big, what does campaign money actually buy, and where does it stop mattering? — CalMatters 4. Governor Candidate Statements | Official Voter Information Guide — California Secretary of State https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/candidates/governor-candidate-statements.htm 5. [PDF] Certified List of Candidates for the June 2, 2026, Primary Election https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/cert-list-candidates.pdf Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    9 min

  2. 2d ago

    Becerra-Hilton Takes Shape as Steyer’s $216M Bet Burns Out

    California governor race shifts into a Becerra-Hilton general election, with Steve Hilton pitching tax cuts and deregulation while Tom Steyer’s $216 million ad blitz becomes a cautionary tale about money’s limits. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Ex-UK political aide Steve Hilton pledges 'common sense' overhaul if elected California governor - BBC News — BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd95x25e2nqo 2. Opinion | Becerra will be workhorse governor, not a show horse — CalMatters https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/06/becerra-next-governor-workhorse-california/ 3. Step Back: When candidates for California governor promise a “common sense overhaul” or a steady workhorse agenda, how much power does the governor actually have to change things like housing, taxes, schools, or public safety — and where do the Legislature, courts, ballot measures, and local governments box them in? — CalMatters 4. Ad nauseam: How message fatigue tanked Tom Steyer's $216-million campaign — Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/why-tom-steyers-216-million-100000352.html Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    11 min

  3. 3d ago

    Hilton vs. Becerra: California’s governor race snaps into focus

    Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are set for California’s November governor race after Hilton edged Tom Steyer despite Steyer’s record spending, turning the contest into a classic red-vs-blue test over affordability, housing and Trump-era politics. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Election update: Republican Steve Hilton to face Becerra in November — CalMatters https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-governor-primary-hilton-advances/ 2. California Governor Race Results | | sfexaminer.com — San Francisco Examiner https://www.sfexaminer.com/hilton-beats-steyer-to-win-second-spot-in-california-governor-race/article_9eac5313-ec8d-5512-9c76-3995243c13a0.html 3. California YIMBY Endorses Xavier Becerra for Governor - California YIMBY — California YIMBY https://cayimby.org/news-events/california-yimby-endorses-xavier-becerra-for-governor/ 4. Hilton’s California Primary Success Is Really a Becerra Win — New York Magazine https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/hiltons-california-primary-success-is-really-a-becerra-win.html Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    9 min

  4. 4d ago

    Newsom Unites Democrats as Becerra-Hilton Race Begins

    California governor race: Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris moved to unite Democrats behind Xavier Becerra after Steve Hilton secured the runoff spot, while Tom Steyer’s $200 million bid collapsed and Trump-fueled fraud claims targeted the slow count. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Newsom Rallies Democrats Behind Becerra After Hilton Secures Runoff Spot — TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/politics/gavin-newsom-officially-endorses-xavier-becerra-ca-governors-race/ 2. Step Back: When Gavin Newsom endorses Xavier Becerra and Democrats say they’re “rallying” around him, what does that actually buy a candidate in California — money, field operation, voter cues — and where are the limits of a sitting governor’s influence? 3. Californians didn’t buy billionaire Tom Steyer’s ‘class traitor’ message — Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/californians-didn-t-buy-billionaire-001653512.html 4. Egged on by Trump, right-wing ecosystem makes baseless claims of California voter fraud — CalMatters https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/egged-trump-wing-ecosystem-makes-185152979.html 5. CA governor race results: How San Diego County voted in the primary — FOX 5 San Diego https://fox5sandiego.com/election/california-governor-race-results-san-diego-county/ Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    11 min

  5. 5d ago

    Becerra Leads as California’s Governor Count Tightens

    California governor race results keep Xavier Becerra in front, but Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer are still battling for the second November slot as slow ballot counting fuels political attacks and Democratic anxiety. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Becerra maintains lead, gap narrows between 2nd and 3rd in CA governor's race - ABC7 Los Angeles — ABC7 Los Angeles https://abc7.com/live-updates/california-primary-election-2026-voters-decide-key-races-governor-los-angeles-mayor-congressional-districts/19213908/entry/19259568/ 2. Ex-Cameron aide and California governor hopeful hits out at election ‘shambles’ | The Standard — Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/steve-hilton-california-republican-democrat-fox-news-b1285302.html 3. Step Back: When candidates complain that California’s vote count is a “shambles,” what is actually happening behind the scenes — why can results take so long, and where are the real safeguards or weak spots? 4. The Real California Lesson: The Democratic Party Has No Actual Leaders | The New Republic — The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/211469/california-lesson-democratic-party-leaders Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    8 min

  6. 6d ago

    California Waits as Becerra-Hilton Race Takes Shape

    California governor’s race remains in ballot-counting limbo after the June 2 primary, with Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton leading and Tom Steyer still chasing. The delayed count is testing voter patience, Trump’s fraud claims, and the top-two system’s promise. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Latest on California governor election as public awaits results - Yahoo News Canada — Yahoo News Canada https://ca.news.yahoo.com/latest-california-governor-election-public-100700262.html 2. Step Back: Becerra could become California’s first elected Latino governor in a state that’s nearly 40% Latino — why has that taken so long, and what would make that milestone politically meaningful beyond the headline? — KQED 3. Calmatters: The Top-Two Primary Was Supposed To Change California Politics. Did It Flop? — SF Gate https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/calmatters-the-top-two-primary-was-supposed-to-22292387.php Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    9 min

  7. Jun 5

    Becerra Advances as California’s Slow Count Shapes November

    Xavier Becerra is projected to advance in California’s 2026 governor race, with Steve Hilton still leading the count and Tom Steyer trailing; PPIC’s survey helps explain Becerra’s late surge after Eric Swalwell exited. In this episode: Top stories: 1. Latest PPIC Statewide Survey Sheds Light on Voter Preferences - Public Policy Institute of California — Public Policy Institute of California https://www.ppic.org/blog/latest-ppic-statewide-survey-sheds-light-on-voter-preferences/ 2. Step Back: California’s governor’s race can send any two candidates to November, even two from the same party — so what was the top-two primary supposed to fix, and has it actually changed who can win statewide here? 3. Becerra Advances in California's $300 Million Race for Governor — Bloomberg Law https://news.bgov.com/california-brief/becerra-advances-in-californias-300-million-race-for-governor 4. What it would take to speed up California's ballot-counting process — San Francisco Chronicle https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/california-ballot-counting-22290056.php 5. Real-Time Election Results: CA Governor's Primary Election 2026 | Across California, CA Patch — Patch https://patch.com/california/across-ca/real-time-election-results-ca-governors-primary-election-2026 Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    11 min

  8. Jun 4

    Becerra-Hilton Runoff Takes Shape as Steyer’s Millions Fall Short

    California governor primary returns put Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton on track for November, with Tom Steyer’s record self-funded blitz lagging and analysts reading a win for party regulars over money and novelty. In this episode: Top stories: 1. 5 things to know about California's election results - CalMatters — CalMatters https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/primary-election-5-things-to-know/ 2. Barabak: Youth, money, gender and other takeaways from California's crazy gubernatorial primary - AOL — The Los Angeles Times https://www.aol.com/news/barabak-youth-money-gender-other-163644696.html 3. Step Back: When headlines say record-setting “outside money” is pouring into California’s governor’s race, what does that actually mean — who’s allowed to spend it, what can they spend it on, and how much control do the candidates really have over it? 4. Democrat and Republican go head-to-head in California governor race | Elections News | Al Jazeera — Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/3/democrat-and-republican-go-head-to-head-in-california-governor-race 5. California governor’s primary pitted experience against promises of change - al.com — AL.com https://www.al.com/news/2026/06/california-governors-primary-pitted-experience-against-promises-of-change.html Follow and rate California Governor's Race on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email california-governors-race@lanternpodcasts.com

    8 min
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About

California Governor's Race is a daily briefing on the 2026 election and the California governor contest. Each episode breaks down candidate backgrounds, campaign strategy, fundraising and polling, with close reads of debates and policy choices shaping California politics. We map Gavin Newsom's role and the paths of challengers across the gubernatorial race, explaining what fundraising reports and legal fights mean for voters. Episodes deliver on-the-ground recaps of campaign events, debate takeaways and interviews with strategists, plus clear explainers of ballot rules and voter impact in the California governor race. This podcast is for voters, reporters and news consumers following the 2026 election who want clear context on polling trends and the forces that will decide the next governor.

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