Brandon Jones (California)
From Ballotpedia
Brandon Jones (Republican Party) is running for election for Governor of California. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Brandon Jones served in the U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2000. He earned a high school diploma from Indianola High School. His career experience includes working as an entrepreneur and affordable housing advocate.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: California gubernatorial election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of California
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of California on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Toni Atkins (D) | ||
| Eleni Kounalakis (D) | ||
| Katie Porter (D) | ||
| Raji Rab (D) | ||
| Tony Thurmond (D) | ||
| Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | ||
| Betty Yee (D) | ||
| Michael Younger (D) | ||
| Chad Bianco (R) | ||
| Sharifah Hardie (R) | ||
| Brandon Jones (R) | ||
| Kyle Langford (R) | ||
| Leo Zacky (R) | ||
| Javen Allen (American Independent Party) | ||
| Nicholas Thompson (L) | ||
| Tony Fitzpatrick (No party preference) | ||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brandon Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jones' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Brandon Jones, a Christian, businessman, father, and longtime Californian running for governor to restore the California Dream. I’ve built businesses, created jobs, and worked to provide affordable housing for those in need. As the founder of the RESTORE California movement, I’m focused on bringing people together—across party lines—to solve the state’s biggest challenges, including high costs, homelessness, crime, and failing schools. My leadership experience, combined with my commitment to conservative, results-driven solutions, makes me the right candidate to lead California toward a brighter future.
- I will reduce crime and make California safe again. Crime and public safety are top priorities. I will enforce the law, support our police, and end policies that put criminals back on the streets. Californians deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses.
- I will make housing affordable and tackle homelessness. California has the highest housing costs in the nation. I will cut red tape, incentivize housing development, and implement proven policies to reduce homelessness—offering real solutions instead of wasteful spending.
- I will fix our schools and restore accountability in education. Our public education system is failing too many students. I will empower parents, expand school choice, and ensure schools focus on academics, not politics. Every child in California deserves access to a high-quality education.
I am passionate about restoring public safety, making California affordable, and improving education. Crime has skyrocketed due to failed policies—I will work to restore law and order. The cost of living is out of control—I will push for policies that lower taxes, reduce regulations, and bring back economic opportunity. Education should prepare our kids for success, not push political agendas—I will champion parental rights and academic excellence in schools.
First and foremost, I look up to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings guide my values and decision-making. I also admire Pastor John MacArthur for his unwavering commitment to biblical truth and our veterans who risk their lives for our freedom. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to service inspire me to lead with integrity and purpose.
I would recommend my book, California’s Comeback, where I outline my vision for restoring the state by addressing crime, housing affordability, education reform, and economic revival. Additionally, the Bible has been foundational in shaping my values and approach to leadership, particularly its teachings on justice, stewardship, and serving others.
Integrity, accountability, and a commitment to serving the people—not special interests—are essential for any elected official. Leaders must be transparent, willing to listen, and courageous enough to make tough decisions. Above all, they must prioritize results over rhetoric and uphold the rule of law.
I have a strong work ethic, a results-driven mindset, and the ability to bring people together to solve problems. My background as a business owner has given me experience in leadership, budgeting, and strategic decision-making. Additionally, my commitment to integrity, transparency, and service to others ensures that I will always put the people of California first.
The governor’s core responsibilities include ensuring public safety, fostering economic growth, managing the state budget responsibly, and executing laws effectively. A governor must also provide leadership in times of crisis, appoint qualified individuals to key positions, and work with the legislature to pass policies that improve the lives of all Californians.
I want to leave a legacy of restoration and renewal—a California that is safe, affordable, and full of opportunity. I want to be remembered as someone who fought for families, businesses, and communities, who took action rather than just talked, and who helped bring real, positive change to the state. Ultimately, I hope my legacy reflects my faith, my love for people, and my commitment to leaving things better than I found them.
The first historical event I remember was the election of Ronald Reagan. I was a child at the time, but I remember the excitement and optimism surrounding his presidency, as well as the sense of strength and leadership he brought to the country.
My first job was delivering morning newspapers when I was 12 years old. I had the job for about a year, waking up early each morning to make sure the papers were delivered on time. It taught me responsibility, discipline, and the value of hard work at a young age.
Aside from the Bible, one of my favorite books is The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It provides timeless wisdom on strategy, leadership, and decision-making—principles that apply not only to warfare but also to business, politics, and life.
I’d be The Flash—he’s extremely efficient! Imagine getting things done at super speed while still having time to focus on the big picture. Plus, saving people in a flash wouldn’t be too bad either!
Here’s a lighthearted one: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. It’s a classic and always seems to come back around!
Overcoming my parents’ divorce was a significant challenge that shaped me in many ways. Additionally, I struggled with a speech impediment growing up, which required persistence and effort to overcome. These experiences taught me resilience, the importance of perseverance, and the power of clear and effective communication.
In California, the most critical responsibilities include restoring public safety, addressing the affordability crisis, fixing our education system, and ensuring a responsible state budget. The governor must also be proactive in disaster preparedness and response, given our state’s vulnerability to wildfires and other natural disasters.
The governor should take a strong leadership role in the budgeting process. California’s budget is bloated with unnecessary spending, and I believe the governor must champion fiscal responsibility, demand transparency, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. I will work to balance the budget without raising taxes.
I would use the line-item veto to eliminate wasteful spending, prevent special-interest giveaways, and ensure that taxpayer money is directed toward essential services like public safety, education, and infrastructure. This tool should be used responsibly to keep California’s budget lean and effective.
The governor and legislature should work together to serve the people, not political agendas. While disagreements are inevitable, my approach will be results-driven and focused on finding common ground. However, I will stand firm against policies that harm California’s economy, public safety, or individual freedoms.
California is one of the most beautiful, innovative, and diverse places in the world. From its breathtaking landscapes to its entrepreneurial spirit, there is no place like it. I love the resilience and creativity of Californians, and I believe in our ability to solve problems and restore the state’s greatness.
California’s greatest challenges include rising crime, unaffordable housing, a struggling education system, and out-of-control government spending. If these issues are not addressed, they will continue driving people and businesses out of the state. We must take bold action to reverse these trends and rebuild prosperity.
Here’s a good one:
Why don’t skeletons fight each other?
Emergency powers should only be used in truly extraordinary circumstances—such as natural disasters, public health crises, or security threats—and should be time-limited, transparent, and subject to legislative oversight. They must never be used to bypass the democratic process or impose excessive government control.
Financial transparency is critical to restoring trust in government. Californians deserve to know how their tax dollars are spent, and I will push for strict oversight to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. I support performance audits for all major state programs and will hold agencies accountable for results.
I support reforms that improve transparency and prevent special interests from abusing the ballot initiative process. While direct democracy is important, we must ensure that initiatives are clear, fiscally responsible, and reflect the will of the people—not just well-funded lobbying groups.
Being governor means taking full responsibility for leading the state effectively. It’s about making tough decisions, setting a vision, and ensuring that policies deliver real results for the people. A governor should lead with integrity, enforce the law, and always put the interests of citizens first.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 18, 2025
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