The 2022 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of California, with the statewide top-two primary election taking place on June 7, 2022. Incumbent Democratic Party Governor Gavin Newsom was elected to a second term after surviving a recall election in 2021 during his first term.
The elections featured universal mail-in ballots; in-person voting was also available. All statewide elected offices are currently held by Democrats. Newsom won 61.9% of the vote in both the 2018 gubernatorial election and the 2021 recall election. He received 55.9% of the top-two primary vote and faced Republican Party state senator Brian Dahle, who received 17.7% of the primary vote, in the general election.
Newsom received 59.2% of the vote to Dahle's 40.8%, a smaller margin of victory than in 2018 and 2021 and the smallest since 2010. Dahle flipped five counties that Newsom carried in 2018: Lake, Merced (which had previously voted to recall Newsom in 2021), Orange, San Bernardino, and San Joaquin. Dahle also received 32% of the vote in Los Angeles County, the highest percentage received by a Republican in the state's most populous county since 2014. Additionally, Dahle managed to carry two congressional districts represented by Democrats: CA-09 and CA-47. This was the fourth consecutive California gubernatorial election in which a Democratic candidate won.
Candidates Democratic Party Advanced to general Gavin Newsom, incumbent governor
Eliminated in primary Anthony Fanara, restaurant owner Armando Perez-Serrato, businessman and candidate in the 2021 recall election Joel Ventresca, former Service Employees International Union committee member, retired airport analyst and perennial candidate
Republican Party Advanced to general Brian Dahle, state senator from the 1st district and former Minority Leader of the California State Assembly
Eliminated in primary Ronald A. Anderson, contractor and businessman Gurinder Bhangoo (write-in) Shawn Collins, U.S. Navy veteran and attorney Ron Jones, former police officer Jenny Rae Le Roux, entrepreneur and candidate in the 2021 recall election David Lozano, attorney and candidate in the 2021 recall election Daniel R. Mercuri, businessman, candidate in the 2021 recall election and for in 2020 Cristian Raul Morales, manufacturing executive Robert C. Newman, psychologist and candidate in the 2021 recall election Lonnie Sortor, business owner Anthony Trimino, entrepreneur and candidate in the 2021 recall election Major Williams, entrepreneur and write-in candidate in the 2021 recall election Leo S. Zacky, businessman, broadcaster, and candidate in the 2021 recall election
Declined Larry Elder, conservative talk show host, author, and candidate in the 2021 recall election Kevin Faulconer, former mayor of San Diego (2014–2020) and candidate in the 2021 recall election Kimberly Guilfoyle, television personality, former advisor to Donald Trump and ex-wife of Gavin Newsom, Kevin Kiley, state assemblyman from the 6th district (2016–2022) and candidate in the 2021 recall election (ran for CA-03),
Green Party Eliminated in primary Heather Collins, small business owner and candidate in the 2021 recall election Luis J. Rodriguez, poet, novelist, and candidate for governor in 2014
American Independent Party Eliminated in primary Jeff Scott (write-in)
No party preference Eliminated in primary Serge Fiankan, small business owner James G. Hanink, former Loyola Marymount University philosophy professor and candidate in the 2021 recall election Woodrow Sanders III, entrepreneur and engineer Frederic C. Schultz, attorney Reinette Senum, former mayor of Nevada City Michael Shellenberger, environmental policy writer and Democratic candidate for governor in 2018 Bradley Zink, children's book author
Withdrew Adriel Hampton, digital media businessman and candidate for in 2009
Endorsements
Primary election The list of candidates was announced on Mar 31, 2022 by the secretary of state.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RonaldAnderson(R) ShawnCollins(R) BrianDahle(R) AnthonyFanara(D) GavinNewsom(D) MichaelShellenberger(I) Other UndecidedBerkeley IGSBerkeley IGSMay 24–31, 20223,438 (LV)± 2.2%1%3%10%1%50%5%15%16%SurveyUSASurveyUSAMay 13–15, 2022709 (LV)± 4.5%7%5%7%5%40%2%16%18%
Results
General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report October 26, 2022Inside Elections November 3, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPJanuary 10, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022538November 8, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Debates Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senator Brian Dahle met on October 23 for their only debate.
2022 California gubernatorial debate Date Host Moderators Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Gavin Newsom Brian Dahle 1 October 23, 2022 KQED Scott Shafer Marisa LagosYouTubeYouTube
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated GavinNewsom (D) BrianDahle (R) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsSeptember 22 – October 23, 2022November 3, 202255.0%34.3%10.7%Newsom +20.7FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightSeptember 2 – November 8, 2022November 8, 202259.6%38.7%1.7%Newsom +20.9270ToWin270ToWinOctober 27 – November 7, 2022November 8, 202257.4%37.0%5.6%Newsom +20.4Average57.3%36.7%6.0%Newsom +20.6 Graphical summary
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GavinNewsom (D) BrianDahle (R) Other UndecidedResearch Co.Research Co.November 4–6, 2022450 (LV)± 4.6%56%37%7%USCOctober 30 – November 2, 2022802 (RV)± 3.5%62%38%––UC BerkeleyUC BerkeleyOctober 25–31, 20225,972 (LV)± 2.0%58%37%–4%ActiVoteActiVoteJuly 29 – October 27, 2022200 (LV)± 7.0%61%39%––Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaPublic Policy Institute of CaliforniaOctober 14–23, 20221,060 (LV)± 5.4%55%36%4%5%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 7–10, 20221,013 (LV)± 4.4%57%35%–8%UC BerkeleyUC BerkeleySeptember 22–27, 20226,939 (LV)± 2.5%53%32%2%13%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaPublic Policy Institute of CaliforniaSeptember 2–11, 20221,060 (LV)± 5.4%58%31%5%7%UC BerkeleyUC BerkeleyAugust 9–15, 20229,254 (RV)± 2.0%52%25%4%19%6,321 (LV)± 2.4%55%31%3%11%
Gavin Newsom vs. Kevin Faulconer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GavinNewsom (D) KevinFaulconer (R) UndecidedBerkeley IGSBerkeley IGSAugust 30 – September 6, 20219,809 (RV)± 2.3%49%27%24%
Gavin Newsom vs. John Cox Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GavinNewsom (D) JohnCox (R) UndecidedBerkeley IGSAugust 30 – September 6, 20219,809 (RV)± 2.3%51%26%23% Gavin Newsom vs. Larry Elder Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GavinNewsom (D) LarryElder (R) UndecidedBerkeley IGSAugust 30 – September 6, 20219,809 (RV)± 2.3%52%30%18% Gavin Newsom vs. Kevin Kiley Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GavinNewsom (D) KevinKiley (R) UndecidedBerkeley IGSAugust 30 – September 6, 20219,809 (RV)± 2.3%50%25%25%
Results
By county
CountyGavin NewsomDemocraticBrian DahleRepublicanMarginTotalvotes#%#%#%Alameda387,04679.32100,92320.68286,12358.64487,969Alpine36358.6425641.3610717.29619Amador6,02732.3112,62867.69-6,601-35.3818,655Butte31,50243.4940,93956.51-9,437-13.0372,441Calaveras7,10333.4414,13766.56-7,034-33.1221,240Colusa1,55327.924,00972.08-2,456-44.165,562Contra Costa265,37168.31123,13231.69142,23936.61388,503Del Norte3,26438.975,11161.03-1,847-22.058,375El Dorado34,53438.9554,13761.05-19,603-22.1188,671Fresno98,41744.92120,66855.08-22,251-10.16219,085Glenn1,93024.346,00075.66-4,070-51.327,930Humboldt29,54161.8018,25738.2011,28423.6147,798Imperial16,71155.9513,15844.053,55311.9029,869Inyo3,38245.234,09554.77-713-9.547,477Kern69,70636.94119,00663.06-49,300-26.12188,712Kings9,38934.8917,52365.11-8,134-30.2226,912Lake9,77148.5410,36051.46-589-2.9320,131Lassen1,44415.757,72684.25-6,282-68.519,170Los Angeles1,620,05367.81769,17432.19850,87935.612,389,227Madera13,28335.9423,67864.06-10,395-28.1236,961Marin95,28980.0323,77519.9771,51460.06119,064Mariposa2,94437.554,89662.45-1,952-24.907,840Mendocino19,03162.6111,36337.397,66825.2330,394Merced25,20045.5930,07354.41-4,873-8.8255,273Modoc68720.132,72579.87-2,038-59.733,412Mono2,49354.562,07645.444179.134,569Monterey65,26263.9036,86736.1028,39527.80102,129Napa32,43764.7317,67135.2714,76629.4750,108Nevada26,65552.5424,08247.462,5735.0750,737Orange464,20648.51492,73451.49-28,528-2.98956,940Placer73,61940.43108,45059.57-34,831-19.13182,069Plumas3,08335.715,55064.29-2,467-28.588,633Riverside285,00047.83310,90152.17-25,901-4.35595,901Sacramento274,68057.51202,93342.4971,74715.02477,613San Benito10,42853.269,15046.741,2786.5319,578San Bernardino215,39147.39239,10952.61-23,718-5.22454,500San Diego574,12155.78455,10744.22119,01411.561,029,228San Francisco257,40285.3844,06414.62213,33870.77301,466San Joaquin85,49848.2291,82751.78-6,329-3.57177,325San Luis Obispo61,16651.1358,46448.872,7022.26119,630San Mateo185,59974.9861,91825.02123,68149.97247,517Santa Barbara80,64859.5754,72640.4325,92219.15135,374Santa Clara379,37770.01162,51829.99216,85940.02541,895Santa Cruz79,11775.9525,05224.0554,06551.90104,169Shasta18,60727.1649,91372.84-31,306-45.6968,520Sierra52934.281,01465.72-485-31.431,543Siskiyou6,32635.6911,39764.31-5,071-28.6117,723Solano77,76959.5452,85040.4624,91919.08130,619Sonoma140,04170.9257,41329.0882,62841.85197,454Stanislaus55,31142.2375,65657.77-20,345-15.53130,967Sutter9,08232.3119,02467.69-9,942-35.3728,106Tehama5,02424.3515,60775.65-10,583-51.3020,631Trinity1,86041.092,66758.91-807-17.834,527Tulare33,27336.4358,05363.57-24,780-27.1391,326Tuolumne8,47136.4714,75963.53-6,288-27.0723,230Ventura153,22654.54127,70945.4625,5179.08280,935Yolo44,32866.0322,80733.9721,52132.0667,135Yuba6,53433.2813,09766.72-6,563-33.4319,631 Totals6,470,10459.184,462,91440.822,007,19018.3610,933,018
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Lake (largest municipality: Clearlake) Merced (largest municipality: Merced) Orange (largest municipality: Anaheim) San Bernardino (largest municipality: San Bernardino) San Joaquin (largest municipality: Stockton)
By congressional district Newsom won 38 of 52 congressional districts, with the remaining 14 going to Dahle, including two that elected Democrats. District Newsom Dahle Representative 33% 67%Doug LaMalfa 71% 29%Jared Huffman 43% 57%Kevin Kiley 63% 37%Mike Thompson 37% 63%Tom McClintock 54% 46%Ami Bera 64% 36%Doris Matsui 74% 26%John Garamendi 48% 52%Josh Harder 65% 35%Mark DeSaulnier 86% 14%Nancy Pelosi 90% 10%Barbara Lee 46% 54%John Duarte 68% 32%Eric Swalwell76%24%Jackie Speier (117th Congress)Kevin Mullin (118th Congress) 73% 27%Anna Eshoo 71% 29%Ro Khanna 68% 32%Zoe Lofgren 65% 35%Jimmy Panetta 30% 70%Kevin McCarthy 51% 49%Jim Costa 48% 52%David Valadao 39% 61%Jay Obernolte 59% 41%Salud Carbajal 53% 47%Raul Ruiz 54% 46%Julia Brownley 49% 51%Mike Garcia 63% 37%Judy Chu 73% 27%Tony Cárdenas 75% 25%Adam Schiff 58% 42%Grace Napolitano 66% 34%Brad Sherman 55% 45%Pete Aguilar 82% 18%Jimmy Gomez 55% 45%Norma Torres 67% 33%Ted Lieu85%15%Karen Bass (117th Congress)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (118th Congress) 58% 42%Linda Sánchez 55% 45%Mark Takano 45% 55%Young Kim 45% 55%Ken Calvert67%33%Lucille Roybal-Allard (117th Congress)Robert Garcia (118th Congress) 78% 22%Maxine Waters 69% 31%Nanette Barragán 49% 51%Michelle Steel 60% 40%Lou Correa 49.7% 50.3%Katie Porter 38% 62%Darrell Issa 50.4% 49.6%Mike Levin 61% 39%Scott Peters 60% 40%Sara Jacobs 63% 37%Juan Vargas
By municipality
+Official outcome by city and unincorporated areas of counties, of which Newsom won 330 & Dahle won 209. City County Gavin NewsomDemocratic Brian DahleRepublican Margin Total Votes 2021 to 2022