VOTE411 Voter Guide

.🚧 DESCRIPTION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION 🚧★★★ IMPORTANT ★★★By clicking the small "Read More" link below, EXPAND this compressed “About This Race” window.To read the responses under "Meet the candidates," click inside the “View Answers” or “Compare Answers” boxes of BOTH runoff candidates; then SCROLL DOWN.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………★ BASIC DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ★The Governor is the highest elected official in California:As the state’s chief executive officer, oversees most state departments and agencies, and appoints judges.Proposes new laws, approves or vetoes legislation, and submits the annual state budget to the Legislature.Mobilizes and directs state resources during emergencies.Term: 4 years (renewable once, if voters re-elect). Base Salary: $245,929 as of Dec. 1, 2025. (Source)Incumbent: Gavin Newsom, Democratic Party. Now in his 2nd term and ineligible for re-election.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………★ VIDEOS ★CalMatters posted brief video interviews with the primary election's eight leading candidates here, including Xavier Becerra (1) and Steve Hilton (3).…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………★ PAID STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS ★Only the candidates for Governor who accepted a campaign spending limit of $19,611,000 were eligible to purchase space for a statement in the Secretary of State's official Voter Information Guide for the November 3 election, at the rate of $25 per word, not to exceed 250 words ($6,250).Neither Xavier Becerra, Democratic Party, nor Steve Hilton, Republican Party, accepted the campaign spending limit of $19,611,000, so neither was eligible to have a paid statement in the Voter Information Guide.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………★ CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA ★ (Source, as of August 12, 2026)The data in this section is more recent than in the graphs shown under "Meet the candidates.".Direct Fundraising by the Candidates' Campaign Committees:(1480025) Becerra for Governor 2026 has raised $28,519,420.51 in 36,018 contributions(1480425) Steve Hilton for Governor 2026 has raised $19,854,563.44 in 73,841 contributions.Independent Expenditures ("outside money"—spent by unions, etc., to support or oppose candidates):BECERRA, XAVIER: $19,044,169.47 in 94 supporting independent expenditures, $0.00 in 0 opposing independent expendituresHILTON, STEPHEN: $13,750.00 in 1 supporting independent expenditure, $2,178,227.72 in 5 opposing independent expenditures.Additional campaign finance resources:For the top ten contributors (above a certain threshold) to campaigns for State elected offices, visit https://www.fppc.ca.gov/search-filings/top-10-contributors-list/november-2026-general-election/.For details of all contributors to candidates for State elected offices, visit powersearch.sos.ca.gov/advanced.php.For details of independent expenditures by groups in support of (or in opposition to) candidates for State elected offices, visit powersearch.sos.ca.gov.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………TO VIEW INFORMATION SHARED BY THE CANDIDATES (more coming soon, so check back!):Beneath the large "Meet the candidates" text below, click inside the “View Answers” or “Compare Answers” boxes of each candidate you want to view. To see the answers of the candidates you selected, SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….