‘California Is Broken’: Elaine Culotti Launches Run for Governor

Elaine Culotti, a California-based entrepreneur and reality TV personality, is running for governor of the Golden State.

“California is broken, but it can be fixed,” Culotti says in her announcement video, which aired Thursday on “The Adam Carolla Show.”

Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom is term limited and cannot run for reelection in 2026.

Culotti says, “I am running under ‘NPP’—no party preference. If you have a neutral leader in California, you have a negotiator. You have a person who is listening to both parties, a governor who believes in small government, somebody who is thinking about California and Californians first.”

On the issues, Culotti calls for “integrity in our elections,” opposes a proposed statewide wealth tax in the state, and calls for improved infrastructure.

Culotti is a successful California real estate developer, interior designer, and farm-to-table farmer. She starred in the Discovery+ reality series “Undercover Billionaire.”

She began providing weekly California-focused commentaries for The Daily Signal in 2025.

The California gubernatorial primary race is already packed ahead of the June 2 primary.

Democrat contenders include Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

Republican contenders include political pundit Steve Hilton and former Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

California has an open primary system, meaning the top two vote-getters in the primary will face off against each other in the Nov. 3 general election, regardless of party affiliation.