Last updated: October 14, 2026
Who Is the Best California Governor Candidate on Climate?
Short answer: California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) considers Xavier Becerra the best candidate for California governor on climate and the environment in the November 3, 2026 general election. Becerra has committed to making corporate polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused, financing California’s move to clean energy, and protecting our air, land, and water.
Who are the candidates for California governor in 2026?
Two candidates are on the ballot for California governor on November 3, 2026:
- Xavier Becerra (Democrat): former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, former California Attorney General, and a 12-term member of Congress from Los Angeles
- Steve Hilton (Republican): former Fox News host and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, endorsed by President Donald Trump
Becerra and Hilton received the most votes out of 61 candidates in California’s June 2 “top-two” primary, where the two leading candidates advance regardless of party. Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and can’t run for California Governor again.
Why did EnviroVoters endorse Xavier Becerra for governor?
EnviroVoters endorsed Xavier Becerra for California Governor because Becerra is the candidate that is most aligned with what everyday Californians want to see. Our state and the people in it face unique challenges like pollution, extreme weather, corporate greed, health impacts, and federal attacks from the Trump administration. We need a governor who has the experience and values it takes to lead California through these challenges, and Becerra is the best candidate for the job.
As EnviroVoters’ CEO, Mary Creasman, put it:
“This election is a deciding moment for the health, safety, and cost challenges crushing Californians every day. With pollution, extreme weather, corporate greed, and federal attacks driving these threats, there is only one clear choice for Governor. Xavier Becerra’s commitment to making corporate polluters pay for the cost of their destruction, financing the transition to clean energy and resilience, and protecting our air, land, and water is aligned with California voters. EnviroVoters is proud to endorse Xavier Becerra for governor, we need his experience and values to make California safer, healthier, and more affordable.”
Mary Creasman, CEO, California Environmental Voters
Read our full endorsement announcement.
Aligning with what Californians want to see from our next governor, Becerra has committed to:
- Making corporate polluters pay for the cost of the destruction they’ve caused
- Paying for the move to clean energy and to communities that can stand up to extreme weather
- Protecting our air, land, and water from Trump administration attacks and federal rollbacks
Is climate action popular with California voters?
Yes. Californians want safer, cheaper, and more reliable energy and transportation, clean air and water, and access to nature and green spaces. Recent polling from the California Environmental Voters Education Fund found that:
- 70% of voters want California to lead on both environmental protection and affordability, even without support from the federal government.
- 68% support increasing California’s investment in clean energy.
- 83% want to prioritize rules and investments that protect communities from wildfires, flooding, drought, extreme heat, and air pollution.
- 66% say the billion-dollar corporations responsible for the climate crisis should cover climate-driven increases in home insurance costs.
Becerra’s stated goals and plans align with the values of California voters on environmental protection, affordability, clean energy, and polluter accountability. He has doubled down on the need for clean energy, even as federal funding for it is being cut. He has committed to leaving no community behind in the clean energy transition, at a time when gas, insurance, and grocery prices keep climbing. And he understands that making public transportation easier to use is a key step toward clean energy.
Where does Xavier Becerra stand on climate, energy, and water?
Here’s where Becerra stands on the issues Californians ask about most:
- Clean energy and utility bills: Becerra has doubled down on clean energy even as federal funding is being cut, and he has committed to speeding up the transition while lowering costs for families.
- Oil and gas accountability: He has committed to making corporate polluters pay for the destruction they’ve caused and to holding corporations accountable for cleaning up our air, water, and land.
- Home insurance: Becerra has named the home insurance crisis one of the most urgent climate issues facing Californians and plans to use his power as Governor to push the next Insurance Commissioner to freeze rates.
- Wildfire and extreme weather: He has named worsening extreme weather, including wildfire, flooding, and drought, as a top priority.
- Water: As Attorney General, he sued the Trump administration in 2018 to protect California’s clean water.
- Clean air and public health: As Secretary of Health and Human Services, he created the department’s first office focused on climate and health.
- Environmental justice: He has named environmental justice a top priority and made it a central mission of the California Department of Justice as Attorney General.
- Trump defense: Becerra has a long history of fighting back against Trump administration attacks on clean air and water, and is ready to continue challenging the Trump administration to protect the safety and health of Californians
What is Xavier Becerra's record on climate and the environment?
Becerra has spent decades in public service at the federal and state levels:
- In Congress: He earned a 91% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters over 24 years, consistently voting to protect clean air, clean water, and public lands.
- As California’s Attorney General: He sued the Trump administration 122 times in Trump’s first term and made environmental justice a central mission of the California Department of Justice by creating its Bureau of Environmental Justice.
- As U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services: In 2021 he created the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, the first office in the department’s history dedicated to climate and health.
Through EnviroVoters’ gubernatorial climate forum, endorsement questionnaire and interviews, Becerra named and committed to trying to solve the most urgent climate and environmental issues facing Californians: cutting emissions, environmental justice, worsening extreme weather, the home insurance crisis, and speeding up the clean energy transition while lowering costs for families.
What challenges will California's next governor face?
A governor is defined largely by the crises they lead us through. California’s next governor will inherit several at once:
- A cost-of-living crisis, with rising prices for gas, insurance, groceries, electricity, and nearly everything else
- Worsening extreme weather, including record storms and flooding expected this winter from a super El Niño
- Federal attacks on clean air. The federal administration unlawfully rolled back three of California’s Clean Air Act waivers last year. The administration is now moving to illegally repeal six more. Read more about the latest waiver repeals.
- An ongoing struggle to secure safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water for the 800,000 Californians that don’t have access to drinking water
Becerra has led the nation’s health agency and fought for affordability and vulnerable communities as Attorney General. His decades of experience positions him to be a champion for working families, a defender of public health, and a strong advocate for the Californians who need it most.
How do Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton compare on climate and the environment?
Becerra faces Republican Steve Hilton, who is endorsed by Donald Trump. Electing a Trump-backed Republican would be a step backward for California communities.
| Issue | Xavier Becerra (Democrat) | Steve Hilton (Republican) |
|---|---|---|
| California's climate goals | Becerra says California is "never going backwards" on climate. He supports the state's clean energy goals. Sources: CBS News, CalMatters | Hilton would roll back the California rules that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels. Source: CalMatters |
| Standing up to federal rollbacks | Becerra sued the Trump administration 122 times as Attorney General and has made fighting federal attacks on California a central part of his campaign. Source: CalMatters | Hilton is endorsed by President Trump and says he expects a "positive, cooperative relationship" with the Trump administration, which has moved to revoke California's Clean Air Act waivers and roll back dozens of environmental, health, and public lands protections. Sources: CalMatters, EnviroVoters |
| Clean energy | Becerra calls the clean energy transition "necessary and urgent" and wants to treat clean energy and a stronger power grid as public investments. Source: Becerra campaign | Hilton would end California's planned utility and business transition to solar and wind power, and would expand production of natural gas, a fossil fuel. Source: CalMatters |
| Oil companies and polluters | Becerra committed to making corporate polluters pay for the damage they've caused and holding them accountable for cleaning up our air, water, and land. Source: EnviroVoters Gubernatorial Climate Forum | Hilton would expand oil and gas drilling in California and loosen the rules that govern the state's refineries. Source: CBS News |
| Utility bills and home insurance | Becerra would declare a state of emergency to freeze utility and home insurance rates. His "Power Hour" plan would offer up to two free hours of electricity a day, starting with low-income families, using extra afternoon solar power. Sources: CalMatters, Canary Media | Hilton blames clean energy upgrades for increasing electric bills and plans to end clean energy programs. California's Public Advocates Office, the state's independent utility customer advocate, lists wildfire costs and power line investments among the biggest drivers of rate increases over the past decade, not clean energy. Sources: CalMatters, Public Advocates Office |
| Environmental protections | As California Attorney General, Becerra was the first state attorney general to create an environmental justice bureau, focused on clean air and water for all Californians. Source: New York Times | Hilton would open undeveloped natural land to suburban housing and block lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the state law that requires projects to take community input and reduce their harm to air, water, and communities. Source: CalMatters |
With Hilton as governor, there’s no path for California to make progress on polluter accountability, clean energy progress, or protecting our public lands, wildlife, water, and air.
What about Xavier Becerra's oil industry contributions?
Earlier this year, EnviroVoters published a statement about Becerra’s acceptance of a campaign contribution from Chevron. We stand by our stance on getting oil money out of politics.
While we don’t agree with Becerra’s acceptance of oil money, his experience taking on corporate polluters makes him the right choice for climate progress in this race.
In our endorsement questionnaire and interview process, Becerra committed to:
- Making corporate polluters pay for the destruction they’ve caused
- Using progressive financing strategies to pay for the move to clean energy and making communities more resilient against climate change impacts like extreme weather
- Holding corporations accountable for cleaning up and protecting our air, water, and land
As California Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Becerra has taken on corporate polluters who are poisoning our communities and fought to protect communities from pollution-driven health impacts.
Holding oil companies accountable is essential to fixing the economic crisis fossil fuel companies are creating with rising energy, gas, health care, and insurance prices. With his close ties to President Trump and vocal support of the fossil fuel industry, it’s clear that there is no future for oil accountability with Steve Hilton.
Why does the California governor matter so much for climate policy?
California is the largest state in the U.S. and the fourth‑largest economy in the world. Its environmental laws often set not just national but global standards. California is a global leader on climate action and biodiversity protection. We need strong leadership to show the world that the pathway to affordability, economic growth, and prosperity are through climate justice.
The governor plays a central role in shaping climate policy, energy transition, environmental enforcement, and resilience planning—decisions that affect millions of people and influence the rest of the country and the world.
Which environmental organizations endorsed Xavier Becerra?
EnviroVoters is proud to endorse Xavier Becerra for California Governor. We announced our endorsement alongside NRDC Action Fund.
Other environmental leaders in California that have endorsed Xavier Becerra for Governor include: Nayamin Martinez (Executive Director, Central California Environmental Justice Network), José González (Founder, Latino Outdoors), Juan Altamirano (Senior Director of Government Affairs, Trust for Public Lands), and more. See all of Becerra’s endorsements here.
Who did EnviroVoters endorse in the June primary?
In the June 2 primary, EnviroVoters endorsed Katie Porter and Tom Steyer. With a crowded field under California’s top-two system, splitting climate-focused votes could have let anti-environment candidates advance. Endorsing two strong climate candidates was our way to prevent that.
- Tom Steyer is a longtime climate advocate. He founded NextGen America to build grassroots power for climate solutions and co-chaired President Biden’s Climate Engagement Advisory Council.
- Katie Porter held oil companies accountable for spills and gas price gouging as a leader on the House Natural Resources Committee, and she earned a 100% score from the League of Conservation Voters in Congress.
Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton advanced to the general election, and we evaluated the race thoroughly through our endorsement process before making the decision to endorse Xavier Becerra for the general election. You can still watch the leading candidates from the primary, including Becerra, Porter, and Steyer, answer questions about climate, costs, and health at our governor’s climate forum, which was hosted in January 2026.
How does EnviroVoters decide who to endorse?
EnviroVoters uses a structured endorsement process that includes candidate questionnaires, in‑depth interviews, and evaluation of a candidate’s values, climate leadership, and ability to win and govern effectively. The organization prioritizes candidates who will fight for climate justice, equity, and accountability from corporate polluters.
EnviroVoters looks for candidates who:
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to climate action and environmental justice
- Have a record of—or clear plan for—holding corporate polluters accountable
- Offer a bold vision for affordability solutions
- Represent or prioritize communities most impacted by climate change
- Are viable candidates capable of winning and delivering policy results
- Expand political representation by supporting women, Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ, and young leaders
You can read more about the EnviroVoters endorsement process here.
When is the California governor election, and how do I vote?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Every registered California voter receives a mail ballot. Your ballot counts as long as it’s postmarked by Election Day and arrives within seven days.
The deadline to register is October 19. After that, you can still register and vote in person at your county elections office or a vote center through Election Day.
Bottom line: Who is the best California governor candidate on climate and the environment?
For voters looking for the best California governor on climate or the environment, EnviroVoters’ answer is clear: Xavier Becerra has the experience, record, and commitments to make California safer, healthier, and more affordable.
Frequently asked questions about EnviroVoters' governor endorsement
Who are the candidates for California governor in 2026?
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are the two candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot. They advanced from the June 2 top-two primary.
Who did EnviroVoters endorse for California governor?
EnviroVoters endorsed Xavier Becerra for governor in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Why did EnviroVoters endorse Xavier Becerra?
Becerra has committed to making corporate polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused, financing the move to clean energy, and protecting our air, land, and water. EnviroVoters believes his experience and values will make California safer, healthier, and more affordable.
Which California governor candidate is best on climate?
EnviroVoters considers Xavier Becerra the best candidate for California governor on climate and the environment in the 2026 general election.
Who did EnviroVoters endorse in the primary?
EnviroVoters endorsed Katie Porter and Tom Steyer in the June 2 primary. Neither candidate advanced to the general election.
Why did EnviroVoters endorse two candidates in the primary?
California’s top-two primary meant climate-focused votes could split and let anti-environment candidates advance. Endorsing two strong climate candidates was intended to help prevent that.
Is climate action popular with California voters?
Yes. Polling over the last year consistently shows California voters overwhelmingly support clean energy and environmental protections. Voters increasingly view corporate pollution as a key driver of high costs and see climate action as part of the solution to affordability.
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