Bold warning: California’s crowded governor’s race isn’t thinning out, and the stakes are heating up. But here’s where it gets controversial: the state party’s call for strategic withdrawal is meeting fierce pushback as voters decide who should lead.
Within a day of the California Democratic Party urging candidates without a viable path to drop out, the field remains crowded with no clear front-runner. At least nine Democrats are competing to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, raising the concern that the large slate could allow two Republicans to advance to the November election.
Rusty Hicks, chair of the state party, warned in an open letter that while the unfavorable scenario is unlikely, it is possible, and urged candidates to act responsibly given the opportunities and support they’ve earned. He asserted that candidates should honestly assess their viability to win and have the courage to make hard choices, even if that means stepping aside if they aren’t making meaningful progress toward a primary victory.
The Democratic lineup includes prominent figures such as former Health and Human Services secretary and current state attorney general Xavier Becerra; former state legislator Ian Calderon; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; former Congresswoman Katie Porter; billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer; Representative Eric Swalwell; State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; and former state Controller Betty Yee.
On the Republican side, candidates include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton.
Polls from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California show the race splitting into two groups: Hilton, Porter, Bianco, Swalwell, and Steyer in relatively close contest, with the remaining candidates lagging.
The Democratic Party did not endorse at its recent convention, though Swalwell attracted roughly 24% of delegates, with Yee and Becerra following.
Critics of Hicks’s letter argue the decision should rest with voters, not party officials. Thurmond pointed to a system he views as rigged by elites, suggesting the letter targets candidates of color. Yee criticized what she called insider politics, stating voters are tired of drama, pollsters, and powerful insiders, while Mahan’s campaign echoed the sentiment that voters should decide the next governor, not gatekeepers.
In his defense, Hicks stated that while the letter may seem harsh, it is a necessary move to ensure a Democratic victory and to protect broader electoral hopes, including possibilities in federal races. Newsom acknowledged the concern and noted there is some apprehension about the race’s dynamics.
Additional reporting contributed by the Associated Press.
