Public Policy Institute of California
5%4%3%2%1%0%
California Governor winner? (Person)
$49.2M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleBusinessman
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationCalifornia
BackgroundBusinessman
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Notable personal detailsLeo Samuel Zacky is a Republican candidate who ran for Governor of California in the June 2, 2026 primary election. He is a fourth-generation Californian from Los Angeles and has described himself as a former vice president of Zacky Farms, a family-run poultry producer. His campaign materials emphasize his business background and his stated focus on taxes, regulation, and government reform.
SourcesShowHide
elections.cdn.sos.ca.govleozacky.comlinkedin.comse.linkedin.comil.linkedin.comsos.ca.govuk.linkedin.comdp.electionresults.sos.ca.govfr.linkedin.comocvote.govfiles.santaclaracounty.govwikidata.orgjoincalifornia.comcommons.wikimedia.orgpredictionedge.comvotescount.santacruzcountyca.govcontent.lavote.govmarincounty.govvigarchive.sos.ca.govivoterguide.comagnetwest.comyournews.comfoxla.comaccessnewswire.comthenewfounders.uskeyt.comscribd.comtransparencyusa.orgopencampaign.compinionnewswire.comsignalhire.cominstagram.comcbsnews.comsacbee.comballotpedia.orgkmph.comdesertsun.comlaist.comfacebook.comen.wikipedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orges.wikipedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports cutting taxes and reducing regulatory/bureaucratic burdens on businesses, and emphasizes making California more pro-business while pursuing a balanced budget. His materials prioritize tax relief, dismantling bureaucratic power, and policies to lower costs for working families and businesses.
Healthcare
Supports medical freedom by banning vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and mask requirements and emphasizes protecting individual medical choice. Positions focus on opposing COVID-era public-health mandates rather than proposing major government expansions of healthcare coverage.
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Immigration & Border
Supports aggressive border security and enforcement measures, including finishing the wall, deploying the National Guard, ending sanctuary policies, and backing federal efforts to secure the border.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports permitting abortion up to about the midpoint of the second trimester with exceptions for emergencies that threaten the mother’s life, and opposes public funding for abortion providers.
Climate & Energy
Prioritizes expanding reliable energy and water infrastructure (reservoirs, desalination, hydroelectric capacity, small modular nuclear reactors) to lower costs and support agriculture; emphasizes rolling back what he describes as overregulation and blames forest mismanagement rather than primarily attributing wildfires to climate change. Policy framing favors market-driven, infrastructure-focused solutions and protecting farmland from mandates.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes most gun regulation and pledges to fully defend the Second Amendment, proposing repeal of California’s existing gun laws and vetoing new restrictions. The campaign frames firearm ownership as essential for self-defense and vows to restore broad gun rights in the state.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Leo Zacky is in the news as one of the candidates in California’s crowded 2026 governor’s race. Recent coverage focuses on the tight primary, with Republicans polling well and Democrats worried that a split field could help a Republican advance. The race has also drawn attention for debate-selection disputes and broader fights over how candidates would handle issues like high electricity costs, housing, and homelessness.
elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov+46
Articles
TAThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution4 months ago
A messy California governor's race raises Democratic fears of potential loss
Neutral
SSFGATE1 month ago
Alameda Co.: 1 Of 4 Possible Elections To Replace Eric Swalwell In Congress Set For Tuesday
Neutral
TNThe New York Times5 months ago
Infighting Begins Among Democratic Candidates for California Governor
Neutral
LALos Angeles Times1 month ago
The other anti-data center movement: California's electricity prices
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
California Governor winner? (Person)
Endorsers of Leo Zacky for California Governor winner? (Person)
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising