Overview
- Slavet, 58, a former longtime Democrat and political newcomer, announced his campaign Thursday and argues his CEO experience equips him to fix state problems.
- He has donated $100,000 to his committee and says he will spend at least seven figures to be competitive.
- His platform centers on lowering costs by boosting energy production, including oil, and on spurring housing by loosening constraints on the private sector.
- He praised President Donald Trump as “brilliant” and said he would welcome his endorsement, though he did not vote for Trump in the past three presidential elections.
- He joins a crowded top-two primary that features Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton and Democrats including Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter, with early polling showing no candidate above 13 percent ahead of the June 2, 2026 primary and the November 3 general election.