The 2026 California gubernatorial election is set to be a pivotal moment for the state’s technology landscape. With nearly 40 million residents and a thriving tech economy, the next governor will play a crucial role in shaping AI governance, cybersecurity, and digital services. The two main candidates, Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton offer starkly different visions for the future of technology in the Golden State.
As California continues to expand its use of generative artificial intelligence across state government, the outcome of this election will influence AI procurement rules, cybersecurity investments, and digital service modernization. Both candidates recognize the importance of technology in improving government performance, but their approaches to regulation and innovation differ significantly.
Becerra’s Vision: Regulation and Worker Protections
Xavier Becerra the 68-year-old Democratic nominee and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, advocates for a government-led approach that balances AI adoption with regulation and worker protections. His campaign emphasizes the use of AI to improve services such as permitting, benefits delivery, and public health, while maintaining transparency and human oversight. Becerra has proposed expanding AI literacy, funding public AI infrastructure through CalCompute and strengthening enforcement of California’s AI safety laws.
Becerra’s approach focuses on ensuring that AI technologies are used responsibly and ethically. He believes that California should lead the way in establishing robust safeguards around automated decision-making. His campaign also highlights the need for predictable regulatory policies for data centers ensuring they pay for their energy costs while encouraging their development.
Hilton’s Vision: Reducing Regulation and Encouraging Innovation
Steve Hilton the 56-year-old British television host and Republican nominee, centers his campaign on shrinking state government and reducing regulation. He argues that California’s technology sector has been stifled by bureaucracy and plans to create a California version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency. Hilton aims to streamline permitting, modernize government operations, and make the state more attractive for technology investment.
Hilton’s approach emphasizes the importance of innovation and market competition in driving technological advancements. He believes that reducing regulatory barriers will encourage the development of data centers and other tech infrastructure, creating jobs and boosting the state’s economy. However, both candidates’ platforms have been criticized for not fully addressing public sentiment regarding the environmental impacts of data centers.
The Broader Implications for California
California’s role as a hub for technology and innovation means that its policies often set the standard for other states. Both Becerra and Hilton are conscious of the need to balance AI innovation with regulatory practices. Bahrad Sokhansanj, a senior research scholar at the Institute for Law and AI notes that while both candidates recognize the transformative potential of AI, they offer markedly different visions for its governance.
The outcome of this election will have far-reaching implications for California’s tech economy and the daily lives of its residents. From housing affordability to energy costs, the next governor’s policies will shape the state’s future. As voters weigh their options, the contrasting visions of Becerra and Hilton on AI and tech policy will be a key factor in their decision-making process.
