Leo Naranjo IV

Leo Naranjo IV

Republican Party

Candidate, Governor of California

Elections and appointments

Next election

June 2, 2026

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1980 - 1995

Personal

Birthplace

Sacramento, CA

Religion

Christian

Profession

Retired

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign X

Personal YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Leo Naranjo IV (Republican Party) is running for election for Governor of California. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on June 2, 2026.^[source]

Naranjo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Leo Naranjo IV was born in Sacramento, California. He served in the U.S. Army from 1980 to 1995. Naranjo is retired.

Elections

2026

See also: California gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for Governor of California

The following candidates are running in the primary for Governor of California on June 2, 2026.

		Candidate
		Xavier Becerra (D)
		Ian Charles Calderon (D)
		Matt Mahan (D)
		Katie Porter (D)
		Raji Rab (D)
		George Slivka (D)
		Thomas Steyer (D)
		Eric Swalwell (D)
		Tony Thurmond (D)
		Antonio Villaraigosa (D)
		Betty Yee (D)
		Michael Younger (D)
		Ché Ahn (R)
		Chad Bianco (R)
		Sharifah Hardie (R)
		Steve Hilton (R)
		Brandon Jones (R)
		Daniel Mercuri (R)
	Submit photo	Leo Naranjo IV (R)
		Jon Slavet (R)
		Leo Zacky (R)
		Butch Ware (G)
		Nicholas Thompson (L)
		Jesse Alberti (No party preference)
	Submit photo	Tony Fitzpatrick (No party preference)
		Lewis Herms (No party preference)
		Leonard Jackson (No party preference)
		Ramsey Robinson (Peace and Freedom Party)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ethan Agarwal (D)
• Toni Atkins (D)
• Eleni Kounalakis (D)
• Kyle Langford (R)
• Javen Allen (No party preference)

Endorsements

To view Naranjo's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Leo Naranjo IV completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Naranjo's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm running for the office of California State Governor 2026, First and Foremost for the Citizens of this State. I was born and raised in Sacramento CA. Retiring from the U.S. Military, Sacramento County and Federal Service. With over 30 years of customer service and financial experience, I'm a dedicated professional who excels in promoting positive outcomes beyond expectations and overcomes adversity no matter the issue. Bringing a plethora of idea's, energy, a willingness to learn, motivation, the ability to inspire others, training and above all leadership in an atmosphere sorely lacking in all of the above. Regardless of the adversity, I'm willing to take on the challenges and the expectations of those I'm asking to represent as Governor of the Great State of California for 2026.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• My Stance:

  Reducing taxes/fees/regulation requirements by upwards of 50% and reducing spending correspondingly.

  My Approach:

  I will implement sound fiscal policies that promote economic stability/growth. My focus will include ensuring fair practices, bring back businesses, ensuring we have a robust energy business, streamlining how our state manages its finances, and holding accountable those using Taxpayer money to achieve the results they promised and we expect.
• My Stance: My highest priority is ensuring the safety and security of every Californian. Of ensuring Californian's are not penalized for defending themselves, their families, businesses or property. I am deeply committed to reducing crime rates across all neighborhoods and communities. My Approach: I will champion effective strategies that empower our law enforcement while strengthening community engagement. My plan emphasizes prevention, swift and appropriate responses to criminal activity and as applicable, prison sentences for the convicted.
• My Stance: I will address California's homelessness crisis with both compassion and pragmatic solutions. My goal is to help our unhoused neighbors find stability and support. We must however, no longer tolerate the destruction of our Cities due to this crisis/issue. NGOS's will be required to show results and outcomes if they're in receipt of Tax Payer funds. For those who wish to leave California will be assisted to return to their Home of Record. My Approach: I will advocate for comprehensive programs that integrate housing solutions with essential support services. I will engage with non-Governmental agencies to ensure we're making progress in this area, not just making noise. Assistance refusal will no longer be the option.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The Status of being a Sanctuary State, homelessness, Crime, Fiscal Responsibility, taxation, 2nd Amendment rights to name a few.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus Christ. I look up to HIM and try to follow in HIS ways. In June of 2023 my wife and I undertook a trip to visit Israel and the area's Jesus walked during his time.
Other historical people impacted my life as well, and certain parts of their history, have shaped me and my walk thru life.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Movie Patton, with George C Scott portraying the main Character. Great movie.

The story of John Paul Jones.
These are two historical individuals who helped shape my life as a child.
The movie Lean on Me.......Morgan Freeman as the main character. Another great movie.

To name a few.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and honesty. If you have neither, you'll never be a good leader nor will anyone ever really Trust you on anything you stand on or for.

Californian's have already been shown, what Leadership is when it's lacking both Integrity and Honesty. Look at our current elected leadership in our State.
I bring something different to the table. If you WANT Honesty and Integrity in a Politician? Then I'm your guy.
If you want promises and guarantees with no guarantee or promise of a positive return? There are lots of other candidates to pick from.
I'm here for the Citizens of this State, first and foremost.

I've not wavered in that statement, and I am THE ONLY Candidate running for Governor, who's made that claim.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, steadfastness, unwavering, firm with conviction, willingness to learn and listen as well as the courage to make the hard and/or unpopular decision(s).

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

First, that you as the official have to remember: YOU WERE ELECTED to serve in the office you ran for. Not selected, not anointed. Elected. People trusted in you enough, to put you into your position. Too many people who run for office, forget WHO it was that elected them. They run on issues, but forget them once in office. They make changes for their consultants, but forget the impacts to the public. Especially if they enact bad policies. We've already seen for the past 6 years, what an "elected to do" official, has not done for this State. While "He's" elected to run California, instead he's off pretending to be Presidential for 2028.

If elected, again, First and foremost for the Citizens of THIS State, not the Carolinas, not Mexico, not Texas and definitely not China. California.

Our current Governor forgot about his duties and responsibilities. I won't. Our current Governor insisted on helping Citizens from other Countries first, and forgot about the Citizens of California while putting them last. I won't.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That anyone with the courage to take on the most difficult task presented, CAN stand up, make a stand, and change their situation regardless of what 'know it alls' are telling you. My wife is fond of saying:

"Nothing beats a failure but a try. "
Well, you can't win a football game, if you never show up to play the game.
In spite of all the negativity of what I CAN"T DO or ACCOMPLISH, I want people to know, what being a Leader is? What Leadership is and what it means?
And what it means to FIGHT FOR something and/or someone other than your political donors.

SELFLESS service. Putting others first, before your own needs, wants and desires.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

hmmm, watching as a child, the documentary WORLD AT WAR, the Holocaust segment. right then and there, I knew I wanted to visit Auschwitz Poland when I grew up. Some 30+ years later, I did just that, 3 different times.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

wow, that's WAY back............my first job, was with a Sub Shop Sandwich place near Marconi Avenue in Sacramento. I held it till the company closed down, which was nearly 6 months.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible is first, always, for the obvious reasons within it.
The there is: OUT OF THE ASHES series. Interesting book, written back in the 1980's or 1990's? Amazing insight the author had then.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

hmmm, a combination of traits from:
James Tiberius Kirk, James West, and James Bond.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

GODS COUNTRY, by Blake Sheldon to name one......
American Soldier (Toby Keith), Give it a Go (Timbaland), Thunderstruck(AC/DC), Midas Touch (Midnight Star)....depends on the day and the mood I'm in.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Staying true to myself in the face of adversity.
Staying true to my faith, when others condemn me for it.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

As Governor, you're first duty is to it's Citizens. Not to the Citizens of other States or Countries. YOUR Citizens.

You act on their behalf and interests.
You provide the shoulder of strength during crisis.
You provide the settled direction needed when times are tough and you're emotions are tested.

YOU, are responsible always.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

For California, our Budget is a mess. We're now saddled with a 12 Billion dollar deficit and face double-digit losses for the next 4 years, as predicted.

As Governor, I will, comb thru all of the State Budget, line by line. Mandatory items will be funded as well as have a thorough review of WHAT is being funding as mandatory. Example: Are school enrollment numbers pre-covid the same as todays enrollment? Should there be an adjustment there or not, up or down?
When an item seems unnecessary or redundant? It'll be cut. Our Budget needs to be sustainable as well as affordable. Losing 35 Billion in lost EDD Revenue, spending nearly 30 Billion on Homelessness with little results, putting nearly 20 Billion into a train going nowhere, is wasted effort and a waste of taxpayer monies.
These are just a few examples of WHY the Governor needs to know what's in the budget, what is needed and how much is needed to be funded. Make the case, and justify it to the Legislature.

So, in that sense, the Governor needs to be involved throughout the process start to finish.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

Thank you for the opportunity to answer/respond to this question.

We've seen/heard of midnight, last minute dumping of Bills onto the Governors desk, with the intent of getting laws passed, good, bad or indifferent. By bulk, these pass if signed or not.
As Governor, I know of this trend, how it works, and what this is used for. It's shameful.
The best way to address new laws, would be a sensible approach for them. In a year, legislation should flow smoothly, not in clumps. Promote good laws, remove bad ones, and replace/retire outdated ones.
It's a learning process for all concerned.

But let me be clear: I'm not like most people. I just don't PASS something, because. The worst way to find out what MY reaction to the above situation would be? Is to do just what was described above, were I to be in office.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Professional and workable.

One sided doesn't help. Legislation has been that way in California for nearly 30 years. As Governor, it would change under my leadership.

I can work WITH the Legislature? I won't be working FOR the Legislature. My priority, is to the Citizens of California as well as the State of California.

What do you love most about your state?

Everything, what's not to love about California?

We have lakes, streams, rivers, an Ocean, coastlines, mountains, deserts, valleys, hills, huge cities, middle-sized cities, small communities and even a tiny town someone recently bought, lol.
California IS a Great State.
We just have incompetent people Leading it.
There is nothing wrong, with California.
There IS something wrong, with California's leaders and their leadership.

I bring a change of THAT feature that is sorely needed here: Leadership.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Costs of living, energy (Both providing it and making it affordable), budget deficits, losing our population, losing our tax base, losing major companies, minor companies and small businesses. Immigration and it's impacts to our State. Losing a Congressional seat and potentially losing more by 2030 (up to 4 as previously reported). Man made disasters as well as natural disasters.
All these and then some, yet I'm still willing to take them all on as a Candidate for the next Governor of California. Together we'll bring our State around, and make it livable, self-sustaining, environmentally protected and BE the 3rd largest economy of the World by what WE produce as a State, not because someone else failed in their economy and we got lucky by moving up.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I can't.....most of mine are Army in nature, and not printable here, lol.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

Natural disasters. Riots. Chaos in the rule of Law and order. War, as declared by the US Congress.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

https://leonaranjo4gov.com/
on the web site

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I come from a Military Finance background. Whether it was US currency, or Foreign currency, US Registered checks, foreign checks or even the US NON-Serialed checks, my stance has never wavered when it comes to "Governmental Money".

The public entrusted you with THEIR money, to spend wisely, prudently and not in a wasteful manner. They, entrusted you to secure their funds, preventing abuses of their monies. They, entrust you to recover mis-spent funding and/or stolen funding quickly as effectively as possible. In my years in Service? I've done just that.
IF, you approach me with an overpayment problem? I'll work with you to resolve and return the funding.
IF, I have to seek you out from the shadows because you avoided the issue? It's going to be painful in the recovery process.
In todays world, that means: If you STOLE money, Misappropriated money, embezzled money, etc? You'll be arrested, charged and if found guilty, serve time.
Period.
What I do with my money, is one thing.
I've never mishandled Taxpayer money at any level.
NDA's will not exist in my administration. You will, be informed of where your money is going, how it is to be spent, what it's being spent on and how much of it is needed.

That, will be fact. Taxpayer money should NEVER be the topic of "speculation".

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

The process I'm okay with. The method of Voting, Vote counting, Registration to vote and keeping updated Voter rolls, I have an issue with.

When you can know WHO won our State lottery by the next day, but you can't figure out WHO won a Gubernatorial race or Presidential race for up to 3 weeks? That's a problem.

So yes, I would like to see these items address, and I'd work with the Secretary of State to ensure our Voter rolls are current and up to date. I'd also like to see the reliance on HAND counting more so than MACHINE counting. If the machine counting programs are soooo sensitive that the owners CAN'T provide the programing content due to "confidentiality" or industry secrets? Then we don't need them in our Voting process. Again, TAX PAYER funding over rules COMPANY PRIVACY in this regards. Taxpayers are paying for it, they should KNOW, how it all works, period.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?

He or She, has the ultimate final word.

Excuses stop at their desk.
Responsibility, rests on their desk.
Accountability, rests on their desk.
Leadership, is required on their watch, always. You are, 24/7 in charge of the State, regardless of what you are doing or where you're at.
You are the Leader, not your staff. You set the tone, not the staff.
I've provided all of the above, everywhere I've been sent or worked for over 30 years.

Mr. Newsom is the prime example of how a Governor SHOULD NOT act, at any time or any level.

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Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

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