Democrats Lead in California Midterm Election Races

Democratic candidates hold significant leads across California in the November 2026 midterm elections. Xavier Becerra leads Republican candidate Steve Hilton in the gubernatorial race, with Hilton holding approximately 36% of the vote.

Republicans face substantial losses in the state legislature and congressional delegations. State Senator Tony Strickland and Assemblymen Josh Hoover, Jeff Gonzalez, Leticia Castillo, and Greg Wallis all trail Democratic opponents. In congressional races, James Gallagher, Kevin Kiley, and David Valadao are losing their seats, a shift that could reduce the state's 52-member delegation to only three or four Republicans.

Local races and ballot measures also show a trend against Republican-backed initiatives. In Los Angeles, challenger Nithya Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass with 51.67% of the vote. Voters rejected Proposition 39, a voter identification measure, and Proposition 40, a billionaire wealth tax. While most local tax measures in Orange and Los Angeles counties are expected to pass, voters in South Gate rejected a proposed 8% utility user tax.