California Election Preview 2026: Governor’s Race, Trump’s Impact, Taxes, AI & San Mateo County’s Future

Days before California's 2026 primary, Mark Simon and Bob Marks convene a power panel to break down everything on the ballot. Congressman Kevin Mullin, San Mateo Daily Journal Editor Jon Mays, and Central Labor Council Executive Director Julie Lind join the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the governor's race, voter anger, low turnout, the billionaire tax, Bay Area transit funding, AI and the future of work, and key local races in San Mateo County.

Is anger driving this election, or is it fear? Who survives the governor's primary after Swalwell's dramatic exit? Can Tom Steyer buy his way into the top two? And what does San Mateo County look like a decade from now?

Guests:

• Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15)
• Jon Mays, Editor, San Mateo Daily Journal
• Julie Lind, Executive Director, San Mateo County Central Labor Council

Topics covered:

• Voter anger, fear, and low primary turnout
• California governor's race: Becerra vs. Steyer vs. Hilton
• The Swalwell fallout and its impact on the Democratic field
• Redistricting, the Voting Rights Act, and political polarization
• The California billionaire wealth tax
• Bay Area regional transit funding and the messaging problem
• AI, automation, and the future of work in San Mateo County
• San Mateo County Assessor's race: Canepa vs. Irizarry
• Final predictions from the panel

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Hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks.

Produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com.

For more information, visit TheGamePeninsula.com.

• (00:00) - Introduction and panel introductions
• (01:26) - Is anger driving the 2026 election?
• (04:28) - What voters are saying about the governor’s race
• (06:06) - Why Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, and other candidates are gaining attention
• (08:46) - Low voter turnout and why ballots remain uncast
• (11:42) - Strategic voting and late-breaking decisions
• (16:38) - The biggest challenges facing California’s next governor
• (19:13) - Debate over California’s top-two primary system
• (23:39) - Why major Democrats stayed out of the governor’s race
• (26:13) - Can Democrats retake the House in 2026?
• (29:07) - Redistricting battles and political polarization
• (33:18) - Tax measures, transit funding, and voter fatigue
• (40:21) - The billionaire tax debate
• (50:22) - What San Mateo County will look like in 10–20 years
• (51:40) - AI, technology, and the future workforce
• (56:46) - Labor’s concerns about automation and economic inequality
• (01:01:06) - Election predictions: governor’s race and assessor contest
• (01:04:11) - Post-panel analysis and final thoughts
• (01:10:13) - Closing remarks