Public Policy Institute of California
5%4%3%2%1%0%
California Governor winner?
$44.7M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleBusinessman
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationCalifornia
BackgroundBusinessman
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EducationUniversity of Arizona (2009–2012)
Notable personal detailsLeo Samuel Zacky is a Republican candidate for Governor of California in the 2026 election cycle. He is a fourth-generation Californian from Los Angeles and is associated with the Zacky Farms family poultry business, where he has been described as a former vice president. His campaign messaging emphasizes affordability, accountability in government, and public safety, drawing on his background in agriculture and business.
SourcesShowHide
elections.cdn.sos.ca.govleozacky.comlinkedin.comtransparencyusa.orgjoincalifornia.comen.wikipedia.orgpastelections.marincounty.govfoxla.comcbsnews.comcalmatters.orgwnd.comcagov2026.comivoterguide.comes.wikipedia.orgvig.cdn.sos.ca.govid.linkedin.combr.linkedin.comvigarchive.sos.ca.govagnetwest.comyournews.comaccessnewswire.comthenewfounders.uskeyt.comscribd.comopencampaign.compinionnewswire.comsignalhire.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgballotready.orgvotesmart.orgwikidata.orggovinfo.govcongress.govdocquery.fec.gov
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 updatedJun 6, 2026
Leo Zacky is one of 61 candidates certified for California’s 2026 governor’s race, putting him on the June primary ballot. The race is drawing attention because the field is crowded and Democrats are worried that vote-splitting could help Republicans advance. Recent coverage says the contest is still unsettled, with debate access and candidate viability becoming major issues.
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Articles
TAThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution2 months ago
A messy California governor's race raises Democratic fears of potential loss
Neutral
TNThe New York Times3 months ago
Infighting Begins Among Democratic Candidates for California Governor
Neutral
VCVentura County Star2 months ago
What to know about newly certified California governor ballot lineup
Neutral
KKABC-TV2 months ago
California governor's race: Gavin Newsom among Democrats concerned about crowded field
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising