California's Governor Gavin Newsom's Successor Race Begins.

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has announced her candidacy for governor in 2026, becoming the first entrant in the race. Kounalakis, an establishment Democrat, has enlisted the services of Bearstar Strategies, a powerful consulting group that has worked for Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and others. Her campaign will focus on issues such as homelessness, income inequality, and the fentanyl crisis. Other potential candidates include Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins.