Kamala Harris is out. Wealthy Los Angeles businessman Rick Caruso — now a Democrat —remains an undecided wild card. And the main players hoping to become California’s next governor are firing up their campaign operations in earnest.

Harris — the former vice president — made her announcement not to run just as fundraising reporting deadlines hit.

Several mainline Democratic candidates indicated they would drop out if Harris ran. Now Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis can resume her campaign. She has the most cash on hand among candidates with $4.6 million.

But, her lack of confidence in her own abilities if Harris ran showed in her 2025 fundraising figures. She only raised $107,015 for the first six months of the year.

The “jungle” primary to whittle the contenders down to two is less than 10 months away — June 2, 2026.

There are several unknowns. Who will Harris endorse? Who will termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom pick? Will their backing help or hurt?

Can a Republican finish in the top two? Will Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco’s law-and-order message resonate? Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36 last year tightening criminal statutes.

How will the Democrats’ attempt to manipulate congressional redistricting resonate with voters?

Will Democrats campaign on Donald Trump? Will Republicans? Odds are, both parties will spotlight the man in the White House.

Democratic Fundraising Scoreboard

Seven Democratic candidates posted six-figure or better fundraising totals. While Kounalakis has the most cash overall,  former Congressmember Katie Porter has collected the biggest haul thus far in 2025 with more than $3 million.

Porter did not waver with the will-she-or-won’t-she Harris rumors. She gained fame in Washington as the whiteboard-toting financial impact legislator.

Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor and Sacramento hopeful, also pulled in a seven-figure haul through the end of June.

Toni Atkins, the former state Senate leader, has more than $4 million in the bank.

More Sacramento insiders are also contenders, but may not have the name recognition. Betty Yee is the former state controller, but with stalled fundraising figures.

Tony Thurmond is the state superintendent for public instruction. With weak comparative fundraising, Thurmond is making grandstand challenges to debate the other contenders in a move that would have wrestling hall of famer John Cena blushing.

Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck, the CEO of timeshare company Diamond Resorts and a Democrat, pledged $10 million of his own funds for a campaign he announced last November. He made the pledge after the June reporting deadline.

And what about Caruso? The billionaire real estate investor could enter the race. However, he is coming off a loss in the Los Angeles mayoral election to Karen Bass.

And the GOP

Two major GOP contenders have raised viable funds: Bianco and former Fox News personality Steve Hilton.

Both raised similar amounts in 2025, but Bianco has the overall cash advantage. Bianco also has picked up several law enforcement endorsements and is staking out MAGA positions on law enforcement and immigration issues.

In fact, the GOP race might come down to who can out-MAGA the other.

Hilton also has embraced Trump-aligned issues. In June, he appeared in Clovis to criticize a transgender student’s participation in the state high school track and field championships. And he has threatened to sue if Newsom and Democrats proceed with redistricting this year in reaction to possible gerrymander in Texas.

Given the Democrats’ big voter-registration edge in California, the looming question for Bianco and Hilton is whether one of them can garner enough independent support to prevent an all-Dem showdown in the run-off.