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Statewide constitutional office

Governor of California

This durable statewide office holds California's supreme executive power. The office remains the same when its officeholder changes.

View the latest election
Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California executive branch
Electoral area
California statewide
Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewide
i
Reviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California
Contest typeVoter-nominatedCalifornia top-two primary
SeatStatewide officeOne of California's eight statewide constitutional offices
Regular term4 yearsRegular term; next election is 2026; no one may serve more than two terms in this office

What this office does

Leads California's executive branch

The Governor administers and enforces state law, proposes and signs or vetoes legislation, prepares the state budget, appoints officials, and serves as commander in chief of the state militia.

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

Election process

A statewide top-two election every four years

All voters receive the same voter-nominated candidate list. The top two primary finishers advance regardless of party preference, and the general-election winner serves a four-year term.

Next electionNovember 3, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page
California statewide statisticsJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures

These statewide measures describe the shared electoral area for all eight California constitutional offices. They do not describe an officeholder's performance. QuickFacts combines the latest available population estimate with 2020–2024 Census measures, so each row retains its own period note.

People and households

Population
39,355,309July 1, 2025 estimate
Persons per household
2.842020–2024
Foreign-born residents
27.0%Share of residents; 2020–2024

Income and education

Median household income
$99,1222024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People in poverty
11.8%2020–2024
Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%Population age 25+; 2020–2024

Housing

Housing units
14,995,410July 1, 2025 estimate
Homeownership rate
55.9%Occupied housing units; 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$2,036Monthly; 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

The official Governor's website and California Roster identify Gavin Newsom as California's current Governor.

Past officeholders39 verified succession records

Succession history

Explore prior service

All prior officeholders listed in the 2026 California Roster.

A displayed end boundary is the date on which the next listed officeholder assumed office; it is not independently asserted as the prior officeholder's final day.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewideReviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Reviewed electoral area

California

Voters in all 58 California counties elect this officeholder to one statewide office.

A reviewed static map is shown while a reliable interactive boundary remains unavailable.

Open the Location Page

Past elections

Election history

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

Election archive

November 8, 2022 · Governor of California page not yet published

The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

Executive orders

Governor's executive orders

Browse executive orders issued by the Governor and retained by the official office.

Open official record

Appointments

Governor's appointments

Review appointments to state offices, boards, commissions, and other public positions.

Open official record

State budget

California state budget

Open the Department of Finance budget portal for the Governor's proposal and enacted budget records.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

Official portrait of Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Official update

Governor Newsom announces $95 million plan to expand EV charging and hydrogen fueling across California

The Governor announced a $95.2 million state investment plan for electric-vehicle charging, hydrogen refueling, and zero-emission transportation workforce development.

Office of Governor Gavin NewsomRead official update
Official portrait of Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Official update

Governor Newsom signs legislation 8.17.2026

The Governor announced his signing of three measures concerning local transaction taxes, public-employee retirement service credit, and contractor-license liabilities.

Office of Governor Gavin NewsomRead official update
Official portrait of Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Official update

Law signed by Governor Newsom helps pave the way for a statewide rideshare-driver union

The Governor's Office reported that a union had reached the support threshold to represent California rideshare drivers under legislation signed in 2025.

Office of Governor Gavin NewsomRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentStrong coverage

The office identity, current officeholder and contact, verified succession chronology, California-wide electoral area and statistics, connected 2026 election, official records, related statewide offices, three current official publications, and source trail are included.

Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 records

The 2018 and 2022 Election Pages, compensation, additional succession context, and full visual and accessibility release review remain incomplete.

Sources used on this page16 source organizations · 55 records
Official candidate source

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Candidate list and ballot informationhttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/19-gov.xlsx
U.S. Census Bureau state boundary

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for State of Californiahttps://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/USLandmass/MapServer/0
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

8 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://www.gov.ca.gov/about/The official Governor's website and California Roster identify Gavin Newsom as California's current Governor.https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/Governor's executive ordershttps://www.gov.ca.gov/category/executive-orders/Governor's appointmentshttps://www.gov.ca.gov/appointments/Official update: Governor Newsom announces $95 million plan to expand EV charging and hydrogen fueling across Californiahttps://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/08/18/governor-newsom-announces-95-million-plan-to-expand-ev-charging-and-hydrogen-fueling-across-california/Official update: Governor Newsom signs legislation 8.17.2026https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/08/17/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-8-17-2026/Official update: Law signed by Governor Newsom helps pave the way for a statewide rideshare-driver unionhttps://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/08/17/icymi-law-signed-by-governor-newsom-helps-pave-the-way-for-the-worlds-largest-union-of-rideshare-drivers/Official publication archive used to review current News items.https://www.gov.ca.gov/category/press-releases/
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

1 record from this source is used on the page.

July 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures detailed district statisticshttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045225
California Secretary of State · 2026 History of California Constitutional Officeholders

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for Governor of Californiahttps://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ca-roster/2026/history-of-officers.pdf
California Attorney General's Office via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_G_Brown_Jr.jpg
California State Library via Wikimedia Commons

2 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Arnold Schwarzenegger · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A._Schwarzenegger_(3x4_close_cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for Earl Warren · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earl_Warren_1944.jpg
Office of the Governor via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Gray Davis · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray_Davis,_portrait_(3x4).jpg
U.S. Department of Defense via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Pete Wilson · Robert D. Ward / U.S. Department of Defense · Public domain (U.S. government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pete_Wilson_meeting_with_Les_Aspin,_Feb_3,_1993_-_cropped_to_Wilson.JPEG
Office of Governor George Deukmejian via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for George Deukmejian · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Deukmejian_official_photograph.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

31 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Ronald Reagan · Ronald Reagan Library · CC BY-SA 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ronald-Reagan-governor-California.jpgReviewed photograph for Goodwin J. Knight · Unknown photographer · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goodwin_J._Knight,_31st_Governor_of_California_Crop_Edit.jpgReviewed photograph for Culbert L. Olson · Los Angeles Daily News · CC BY 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Culbert_L._Olson_at_a_convention_for_the_California_Federation_of_Democratic_Women's_Clubs_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for Frank F. Merriam · Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Merriam,_portrait_photo_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for James Rolph, Jr. · Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Rolph_Jr._Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Clement C. Young · Bain News Service · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CC_Young_(3x4_cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for Friend Wm. Richardson · Bain News Service · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Friend_Richardson_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for William D. Stephens · Bain News Service, publisher · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_D._Stephens_LCCN2014715011_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for Hiram W. Johnson · Internet Archive Book Images · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiram_Johnson_Portrait_(3x4_cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for James N. Gillett · Bushnell · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Gillett,_1910_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for George C. Pardee · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Pardee_circa_1911_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Henry T. Gage · Unknown photographer · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Gage_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for James H. Budd · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_H._Budd,_Governor-Elect_of_California_Trim_Edit.pngReviewed photograph for Henry H. Markham · Union Eng S.F. · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_H._H._Markham_Alt_Edit_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Robert W. Waterman · Isaiah West Taber · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Waterman_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Washington Bartlett · Bradley & Rulofson for the City of San Francisco · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Bartlett_1883_Edit_Crop.pngReviewed photograph for George Stoneman · I. W. Taber · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_George_Stoneman_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for George C. Perkins · Houseworth · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Clement_Perkins_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for William Irwin · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Irwin_Oval_Edit.pngReviewed photograph for Romualdo Pacheco · Mathew Benjamin Brady / Levin Corbin Handy · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Romualdo_Pacheco_-_Brady-Handy_(cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for Newton Booth · Mathew Benjamin Brady / Levin Corbin Handy · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newton_Booth_-_Brady-Handy_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Henry H. Haight · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Haight_(3x4a).jpgReviewed photograph for Frederick F. Low · Bradley & Rulofson · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gov._F._F._Low_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Leland Stanford · Bradley & Rulofson · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Leland_Stanford_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for John G. Downey · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_G._Downey_Crop.jpgReviewed photograph for Milton S. Latham · Bradley & Rulofson · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Latham1.jpgReviewed photograph for John B. Weller · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_B._Weller_Destiny_Road_3x4.jpgReviewed photograph for J. Neely Johnson · Isaiah West Taber · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J_Neely_Johnson_(3x4_cropped).jpgReviewed photograph for John Bigler · Unknown photographerUnknown photographer · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Bigler,_1850.jpgReviewed photograph for John McDougal · William F. Cogswell · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_McDougall_Portrait_Crop_Edit_3x4.jpgReviewed photograph for Peter H. Burnett · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Hardeman_Burnett_-_circa_1860.jpg
California Blue Book 1954 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Edmund G. Brown · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pat_Brown,_1954.jpg
California Department of Finance

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California state budgethttps://ebudget.ca.gov/
California Secretary of State

2 records from this source are used on the page.

California Roster source for the eight current statewide constitutional officers and their office contact information.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-rosterOfficial explanation of California voter-nominated and nonpartisan primary election rules.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california
California Legislative Information

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California Constitution Article V source for executive powers, statewide election timing, terms, and term limits.https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=V&chapter=&division=&lawCode=CONS&part=&title=
U.S. Census Bureau

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State cartographic boundary source underlying the static California map treatment.https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.html
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