The 2014 California gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of California, concurrently with elections for the rest of California's executive branch, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Democratic Governor Jerry Brown ran for election to a second consecutive and fourth overall term in office. Although governors are limited to lifetime service of two terms in office, Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983, and the law only affects terms served after November 6, 1990.
A primary election was held on June 3, 2014. Under California's nonpartisan blanket primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the general election in November, even if a candidate manages to receive a majority of the votes cast in the primary election. Washington is the only other state with this system, a top two primary (Louisiana has a similar primary). Brown and Republican Neel Kashkari finished first and second, respectively, which Brown won. He won the largest gubernatorial victory since 1986, "despite running a virtually nonexistent campaign." This was the first time since 1978 that a Democrat carried Nevada County.
Primary election
A certified list of candidates was released by the secretary of state on March 27, 2014. The primary election took place on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, from 7am to 8pm.
Party candidacies Democratic Party Declared Akinyemi Agbede, candidate for Mayor of Orange County, Florida in 2010 Jerry Brown, incumbent governor of California
Withdrew Geby Espinosa, gym owner Hanala Sagal, author and fitness personality Michael Strimling, attorney
Declined Kamala Harris, Attorney General of California (ran for re-election)Associated Press. Attorney General Harris to announce re-election bid . KPCC, Feb. 11, 2014. Retrieved Feb. 28, 2014. Gavin Newsom, Lieutenant Governor of California (ran for re-election)ABC7 Eyewitness News. Gavin Newsom announces candidacy for re-election for Lieutenant Governor of California. Twitter.com. Mar. 6, 2014. Hilda Solis, former United States Secretary of Labor and former U.S. representative (ran for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors) Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles
Republican Party
Declared Richard Aguirre, real estate investor and Democratic candidate for governor in 2010 Glenn Champ, businessman and engineer Tim Donnelly, state assemblyman and Minuteman founder Neel Kashkari, former acting assistant secretary of the Treasury for financial stability Alma Marie Winston
Withdrew Andrew Blount, Mayor of Laguna Hills Dennis Jackson, manufacturer Abel Maldonado, former lieutenant governor of California, candidate for controller in 2006, and candidate for CA-24 in 2012
Declined Kevin McCarthy, U.S. representative and House Majority Whip John Moorlach, Orange County Supervisor Steve Poizner, former Insurance Commissioner of California and candidate for governor in 2010 George Radanovich, former U.S. representative Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett-Packard, former CEO of eBay and nominee for governor in 2010
Green Party Declared Luis J. Rodriguez, author, progressive activist and Justice Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2012
Peace and Freedom Party Declared Cindy Sheehan, anti-war activist and Peace and Freedom Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2012
Libertarian Party Declined James P. Gray, former Orange County Superior Court Judge and Libertarian Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2012
American Independent Party Endorsed Tim Donnelly
Withdrew Robert Ornelas, American Independent Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2012
Independent Declared Bogdan Ambrozewicz, small business owner, Independent candidate for the State Senate in 2012 and Republican candidate for the State Assembly in 2011 Janel Buycks, minister/business owner Rakesh Kumar Christian, small business owner, independent candidate for governor in 2010 Joe Leicht, golf course operator Robert Newman, psychologist, farmer and Republican candidate for governor in 2003, 2006, and 2010
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Jerry Andrew Tim Neel Abel Other UndecidedGQRGQR May 21–28, 2014 626 ± 4.4% 50% — 13% 18% — 5% 14%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 16–19, 2014 610 ± 4% 57% — 18% 11% — 4% 10%PPICPPIC May 8–15, 2014 901 ± 4.9% 48% — 15% 10% — 1% 27%PPICPPIC April 8–15, 2014 944 ± 5.1% 46% 3% 9% 2% — 2% 38%Field PollField Poll March 18–April 5, 2014 504 ± 4.5% 57% 3% 17% 2% — 1% 20%PPICPPIC March 11–18, 2014 936 ± 4.7% 47% 2% 10% 2% — 3% 36%Field PollField Poll 836 ± 3.5% 52% — 9% 3% 11% — 25%PPICPPIC November 12–19, 2013 1,081 ± 4.5% 46% — 16% — 7% 1% 29%
Results
General election
Debates Complete video of debate, September 4, 2014 - C-SPAN
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JerryBrown (D) NeelKashkari (R) Other UndecidedZogby AnalyticsZogby Analytics October 28–31, 2014 705 ± 3.8% 51% 33% 16%GQR/American ViewpointGQR/American Viewpoint October 22–29, 2014 1,162 ± 3.3% 56% 37% — 7%Field PollField Poll October 15–28, 2014 941 ± 3.4% 54% 33% — 13%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 7,463 ± 2% 55% 37% 1% 8%PPICPPIC October 12–19, 2014 1,704 ± 3.5% 52% 36% — 12%CBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 7,943 ± 2% 56% 36% 1% 7%PPICPPIC September 8–15, 2014 916 ± 4.9% 54% 33% 2% 11%LA Times/USCLA Times/USC September 2–9, 2014 1,089 ± 3.3% 57% 36% — 7%GQR/AVGQR/AV September 2–8, 2014 8,941 ± 2% 57% 32% — 11%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 8,941 ± 2% 53% 35% 2% 10%Field PollField Poll August 14–28, 2014 467 ± 4.8% 50% 34% — 16%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing July 22–24, 2014 580 ± 4% 52% 35% — 13%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 9,393 ± ? 57% 33% 3% 7%PPICPPIC July 8–15, 2014 984 ± 4.7% 52% 33% 4% 11%Field PollField Poll June 5–22, 2014 2,013 ± 3.2% 52% 32% 0% 16%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 4–5, 2014 823 ± 4% 52% 33% 5% 10%GQR May 21–28, 2014 626 ± 4.4% 53% 35% 2% 9%MFour/Tulchin ResearchMFour/Tulchin Research August 27–30, 2013 1,001 ± 3.5% 44% 15% 8% 33%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JerryBrown (D) TimDonnelly (R) Other UndecidedGQR May 21–28, 2014 626 ± 4.4% 54% 32% 3% 11%PPICPPIC January 14–21, 2014 1,706 ± 3.8% 53% 17% — 30%MFour/Tulchin ResearchMFour/Tulchin Research August 27–30, 2013 1,001 ± 3.5% 43% 21% 7% 30%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JerryBrown (D) AbelMaldonado (R) Other UndecidedMFour/Tulchin Research August 27–30, 2013 1,001 ± 3.5% 42% 21% 9% 29%
Results Brown won easily, by nearly twenty points. He outperformed his majority margin from 2010. As expected, Brown did very well in Los Angeles and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kashkari conceded defeat right after the polls closed in California.
By county County Jerry BrownDemocratic Neel KashkariRepublican Margin Total votes cast # % # % # %Alameda293,08182.17%63,59317.83%229,48864.34%356,674Alpine28461.87%17538.13%10923.75%459Amador5,68244.55%7,07155.45%-1,389-10.89%12,753Butte29,52047.79%32,24952.21%-2,729-4.42%61,769Calaveras6,87043.73%8,84156.27%-1,971-12.55%15,711Colusa1,78942.73%2,39857.27%-609-14.55%4,187Contra Costa174,40368.65%79,66031.35%94,74337.29%254,063Del Norte3,48849.64%3,53950.36%-51-0.73%7,027El Dorado27,91645.50%33,44354.50%-5,527-9.01%61,359Fresno76,14347.62%83,74452.38%-7,601-4.75%159,887Glenn2,04934.40%3,90865.60%-1,859-31.21%5,957Humboldt24,00364.61%13,14635.39%10,85729.23%37,149Imperial13,45764.26%7,48435.74%5,97328.52%20,941Inyo2,31742.68%3,11257.32%-795-14.64%5,429Kern54,26940.90%78,41759.10%-24,148-18.20%132,686Kings8,75239.20%13,57560.80%-4,823-21.60%22,327Lake10,72261.28%6,77538.72%3,94722.56%17,497Lassen2,21332.44%4,60967.56%-2,396-35.12%6,822Los Angeles978,14266.84%485,18633.16%492,95633.69%1,463,328Madera9,97437.22%16,82562.78%-6,851-25.56%26,799Marin69,75179.35%18,14720.65%51,60458.71%87,898Mariposa2,49938.23%4,03861.77%-1,539-23.54%6,537Mendocino17,34071.76%6,82528.24%10,51543.51%24,165Merced18,94550.13%18,84849.87%970.26%37,793Modoc77027.20%2,06172.80%-1,291-45.60%2,831Mono1,63253.09%1,44246.91%1906.18%3,074Monterey51,31569.43%22,59130.57%28,72438.87%73,906Napa25,84668.19%12,05931.81%13,78736.37%37,905Nevada20,97654.63%17,41945.37%3,5579.26%38,395Orange275,70744.43%344,81755.57%-69,110-11.14%620,524Placer51,24145.41%61,60454.59%-10,363-9.18%112,845Plumas2,96641.75%4,13958.25%-1,173-16.51%7,105Riverside165,34047.09%185,80552.91%-20,465-5.83%351,145Sacramento202,41662.33%122,34237.67%80,07424.66%324,758San Benito8,65463.52%4,96936.48%3,68527.05%13,623San Bernardino134,41746.86%152,45853.14%-18,041-6.29%286,875San Diego346,41951.07%331,94248.93%14,4772.13%678,361San Francisco196,74588.15%26,44211.85%170,30376.31%223,187San Joaquin62,61453.54%54,33146.46%8,2837.08%116,945San Luis Obispo46,60654.32%39,18645.68%7,4208.65%85,792San Mateo120,28075.22%39,61524.78%80,66550.45%159,895Santa Barbara64,91258.26%46,50341.74%18,40916.52%111,415Santa Clara288,73272.94%107,11327.06%181,61945.88%395,845Santa Cruz56,97778.61%15,49921.39%41,47857.23%72,476Shasta21,50938.06%35,00761.94%-13,498-23.88%56,516Sierra67944.21%85755.79%-178-11.59%1,536Siskiyou6,10344.16%7,71755.84%-1,614-11.68%13,820Solano57,87464.57%31,75435.43%26,12029.14%89,628Sonoma107,32874.75%36,24925.25%71,07949.51%143,577Stanislaus46,56651.54%43,78648.46%2,7803.08%90,352Sutter8,68842.73%11,64457.27%-2,956-14.54%20,332Tehama5,40835.21%9,95264.79%-4,544-29.58%15,360Trinity1,71144.17%2,16355.83%-452-11.67%3,874Tulare23,70838.42%37,99661.58%-14,288-23.16%61,704Tuolumne7,95146.75%9,05853.25%-1,107-6.51%17,009Ventura106,07253.07%93,79746.93%12,2756.14%199,869Yolo31,43169.12%14,04330.88%17,38838.24%45,474Yuba5,16641.62%7,24558.38%-2,079-16.75%12,411Total4,388,36859.97%2,929,21340.03%1,459,15519.94%7,317,581
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Del Norte (largest community: Crescent City)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Merced (largest community: Merced) Mono (largest municipality: Mammoth Lakes) Nevada (largest town: Truckee) San Luis Obispo (largest town: San Luis Obispo) San Diego (largest community: San Diego) Stanislaus (largest community: Modesto) Ventura (largest city: Ventura)
By congressional district Brown won 41 of 53 congressional districts, including two held by Republicans.