Whos running for California governor? Meet the 10 candidates

California’s race for governor is an imperfect 10.No fewer than eight Democrats and two Republicans are vying to succeed Gov.Gavin Newsom, and Californians are starting to take stock of what’s on the menu for the June 2 primary election. The Golden State is facing crises on multiple fronts, from housing and homelessness to an intractable cost-of-living conundrum that has caused thousands of residents to flee the state in recent years.All of the candidates are trying to carve out a lane with distinctive policy positions, some with varying results.

Here’s how the candidates say they’ll lead California into the future.Voters could be forgiven for thinking the lefty East Bay congressman — who may not actually live in California — is running against President Trump in the race for governor. Like Newsom, Swalwell has been carrying the resistance baton by framing himself as the strongest candidate to fight back against Trump’s policies on immigration and tariffs.He’s vowed to ban ICE agents from state employment and even bar them from getting California divers’ licenses.But while he brands himself as a fighter, Swalwell seems just as comfortable playing the victim, repeatedly noting he faces death threats and his children can’t even play outside — while he frequently posts social media videos of his children, sometimes playing outside.The 45-year-old former Alameda County prosecutor was first elected to the House in 2012, when he surprisingly knocked out 20-term incumbent Pete Stark through an attack line accusing the then-congressman of not focusing on local issues and failing to live in the district.It’s an ironic full circle moment for Swalwell, whose own neighbors say they have never seen him in the nine years he has claimed to live on their small cul-de-sac in Livermore.Swalwell missed more votes than any active member of Congress last year, and much of that time was spent hitting up A-list celebrities for campaign cash.

He’s used that mo...