For students at Diablo Valley College, the California governor’s race could have a direct impact on day-to-day life, as state policies influence everything from tuition funding and financial aid programs to the affordability of areas like Concord and Pleasant Hill.

Yet despite the importance of the state’s primary election happening less than a month from now, on June 2, a lot of young voters appear to be less engaged than they have been with national races or presidential elections in the past.

“Politics is what we make of it together,” said Christopher Longenecker, a professor of political science at Diablo Valley College.

“The more [informed] and engaged people are, the stronger that system becomes.”

Now, with only weeks to go before the gubernatorial primary, a reduced list of candidates is taking shape, giving California voters a range of political perspectives to choose from — with four Democrats and two Republicans vying for what has become a competitive and unpredictable race.

“There’s no big, high profile figure that has come in and dominated this race,” added Longenecker. “Instead, you have a wide-open field of candidates without a clear frontrunner.”

This uncertainty was made clear during a recent gubernatorial debate on April 22, when six candidates — Democrats Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Matt Mahon, along with two Republicans, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco — took the stage in San Francisco.

Despite having disagreements and sharing some sharp words, the debate did not produce a clear winner.

Where the candidates stand

• Xavier Becerra emphasizes healthcare access and public health policies, backed up by his experience serving as a congressman, state attorney general, and as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration.
• Katie Porter focuses on consumer protections, corporate accountability and lowering costs for families, but her campaign has faced some personal and management issues.
• Tom Steyer highlights climate change, clean energy and economic reforms by taking on special interests like Big Oil and Pharma, and has drawn attention due to spending more than $100 million of his own money on the race.
• Matt Mahan emphasizes local governance and solutions to housing and homelessness, positioning himself as a more centrist, pragmatic Democrat based on his success as mayor of San Jose.
• Steve Hilton advocates for economic reforms and smaller government. A former Fox News host, he is the leading Republican candidate with the backing of President Donald Trump.
• Chad Bianco prioritizes law enforcement and public safety as the sheriff of Riverside County, and has aligned himself with conservative positions on immigration, homelessness and crime.

The final day to register to vote is May 18 for the June 2 primary. According to Longenecker, the participation of young people and college students could be crucial in determining the outcome.

”I would encourage young voters to get educated and stay engaged,” he said. “Don’t wait years to understand how these decisions impact your life — start now.”