2022 California gubernatorial election

2022 California gubernatorial election
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Election name	2022 California gubernatorial election
Country	California
Type	presidential
Previous election	2018 California gubernatorial election
Previous year	2018
Next election	2026 California gubernatorial election
Next year	2026
Election date	November 8, 2022

2022 California gubernatorial election The 2022 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, featuring incumbent Gavin Newsom and challenger Brian Dahle in the general contest after a top-two primary. The contest occurred alongside the 2022 United States elections, the 2022 United States Senate elections, and the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections, with major attention from national figures such as Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Ron DeSantis.

Background

California had previously elected Gavin Newsom in the 2018 California gubernatorial election, who faced a 2021 California gubernatorial recall election that involved figures like Larry Elder, Kevin Faulconer, and John Cox. The state's political landscape included institutions such as the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, California State Legislature, and influential interest groups like the California Teachers Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, and environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council. The 2022 cycle was framed by policy debates tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, the California drought, the California wildfires, housing crises in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and national issues raised in the 2022 California ballot proposition slate.

Candidates

Major candidates included incumbent Gavin Newsom (Democratic Party), a former Mayor of San Francisco and former Lieutenant Governor of California, and Brian Dahle (Republican Party), a member of the California State Senate and California State Assembly. Other primary contenders and minor candidates comprised figures such as Kevin Paffrath, a YouTuber and real estate investor; David F. Eby (note: not a candidate); and various state and local officials, activists, and perennial candidates who filed with the California Secretary of State. National actors like Steve Bannon and groups like the Club for Growth monitored the race, while organizations such as the California Nurses Association and the California Apartment Association engaged with endorsements and mobilization.

Primary elections

The top-two primary on June 7, 2022, followed the California top-two primary system used since Proposition 14 (2010). Voter participation included registered electorates from Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, with turnout influenced by concurrent primaries for the United States Senate election in California, 2022 and local measures in Alameda County and Santa Clara County. Prominent endorsements in the primary came from the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, labor unions such as the AFL–CIO, and environmental groups including the Sierra Club. The result advanced Gavin Newsom and Brian Dahle to the general election under the top-two primary rule.

General election

The general election campaign matched statewide advertising markets in Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Fresno with coordinated media buys on networks such as Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and platforms including Facebook and YouTube. Polling organizations like Quinnipiac University Poll, YouGov, Marist College Polling Center, Edison Research, and Ipsos tracked voter preferences, while analysts at institutions such as the Brookings Institution, RealClearPolitics, and Cook Political Report evaluated competitiveness. Ballot administration involved the California Secretary of State, county registrars, and mail-in ballot processing overseen by county offices including the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Campaign issues and endorsements

Key campaign issues included homelessness in Los Angeles and San Francisco, housing affordability in Silicon Valley and Orange County, public safety debates tied to policies in San Francisco Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department, wildfire mitigation across Sierra Nevada communities, water management related to the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, and pandemic-era policies tied to mandates and public health. Endorsements spanned national politicians—Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi for the incumbent, and conservative figures such as Donald Trump and Kevin McCarthy's allies for the challenger—plus labor unions like the California Federation of Labor, the Teamsters, and business groups including the California Chamber of Commerce.

Debates and public events

Debates and town halls were hosted in venues across Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Central Valley, with moderators from outlets such as KQED, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and broadcast partners including ABC News and NBC News. Public events featured civic groups like the League of Women Voters of California, policy forums at universities including the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University, and appearances at kickoffs with surrogates such as Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom's campaign surrogates, and Republican surrogates including John Cox. Debate topics mirrored statewide concerns and national narratives raised by actors such as Fox News pundits and MSNBC commentators.

Election results and aftermath

On November 8, 2022, the statewide returns showed the incumbent prevailing, with county-level outcomes reported by Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Orange County Registrar of Voters, and others. The results influenced legislative and judicial considerations in the California State Senate and California State Assembly, as well as appointments to state agencies like the California Environmental Protection Agency and commissions tied to housing and public safety. National reactions included commentary from Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and media organizations such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, while policy impacts resonated in ongoing debates on homelessness, housing policy, wildfire resilience, and water management across California.

Category:2022 elections in the United States Category:California gubernatorial elections