Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced that he will not run for governor of California in 2026, setting up a competitive race.
Speaking to reporters at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Padilla thanked voters for the “outpouring of support” he has received from those who have urged him to run. However, he is opting out to continue his work in the Senate.
“It is with a full heart, and even more commitment than ever, that I am choosing to not run for governor of California next year,” he said.
“I choose to stay in this fight because the Constitution is worth fighting for,” Padilla added. “Our fundamental rights are worth fighting for.”
Padilla had been gaining steam for months, becoming a Democratic star when he was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for disrupting the event. He became a leading congressional voice against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, even going so far as to suggest that he could be arrested by the agency due to his Hispanic heritage.
After former Vice President Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Eleni Lounalakis (D-CA) declared their intentions not to run, Padilla would have been the biggest political heavyweight in the Democratic field. His decision not to run leaves the race without a clear front-runner, though attention is largely on former Rep. Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
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Porter has been wracked by the race’s first major controversy after her awkward behavior in an interview led to staff members alleging past abusive behavior — allegations backed up by a leaked video showing her berating a staff member on a Zoom call.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary is essentially cleared to win the deep-blue state.