California Democrats continue to be in a mathematically risky situation in the race to elect the state’s next governor with fears that too many Democrats on the ballot in June could translate to voters choosing between two Republicans in November. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly said he wants to stay out of it, signaled this week that he’s paying more attention to the race. Despite a public plea from the California Democratic Party chairman Tuesday for lower polling candidates to get out of the race, most of the lower polling candidates officially filed their paperwork to run on Wednesday. The plea came less than two weeks after party delegates could not agree to endorse a candidate at the state party’s convention. Former State Controller Betty Yee, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa all posted on social media photos or videos confirming they filed to run. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he filed Tuesday and accused party leaders of urging the candidates of color to get out of the race and noted the polling front-runners are all white. Congressman Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Congresswoman Katie Porter have led in most of the recent polls. Some party leaders see the wide field of Democratic candidates as a problem because of the state’s primary system. In California, the two candidates with the most votes in the primary election in June advance to the general election in November, regardless of political party. As of Wednesday night, a data modeling tool created by elections expert Paul Mitchell showed a 28% chance that two Republicans advance to the general election. The leading Republicans are Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton. The governor on Tuesday said he agreed with the party’s chairman, Rusty Hicks, on the plea for some candidates to drop out of the race. “I confess, I agree,” the governor said in Los Angeles at an event promoting his new book on Tuesday night.”I hadn’t really processed it because at this moment in history with all the peril and promise that marks this moment for California, the most un-Trump state to have a Republican running, there is no margin for error. This is a moment for real self-reflection, is about you or about me? Or is it about all of us. The stakes couldn’t be higher. All I’ll say is, choose wisely.” The governor earlier in the day told CBS Los Angeles, “I’m not putting my thumb on anything at the moment, but there may be a moment in the next few months.” The latest comments mark a significant shift in the governor’s position. On Monday he told reporters, “You know my position, I don’t talk about this governor’s race.” “I have to let it go, I have to accept the fact that I have a sell-by date and I’m a milk carton,” Newsom said at the time. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channelKCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
California Democrats continue to be in a mathematically risky situation in the race to elect the state’s next governor with fears that too many Democrats on the ballot in June could translate to voters choosing between two Republicans in November.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly said he wants to stay out of it, signaled this week that he’s paying more attention to the race.
Despite a public plea from the California Democratic Party chairman Tuesday for lower polling candidates to get out of the race, most of the lower polling candidates officially filed their paperwork to run on Wednesday.
The plea came less than two weeks after party delegates could not agree to endorse a candidate at the state party’s convention.
Former State Controller Betty Yee, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa all posted on social media photos or videos confirming they filed to run.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he filed Tuesday and accused party leaders of urging the candidates of color to get out of the race and noted the polling front-runners are all white.
Congressman Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Congresswoman Katie Porter have led in most of the recent polls.
Some party leaders see the wide field of Democratic candidates as a problem because of the state’s primary system. In California, the two candidates with the most votes in the primary election in June advance to the general election in November, regardless of political party.
As of Wednesday night, a data modeling tool created by elections expert Paul Mitchell showed a 28% chance that two Republicans advance to the general election. The leading Republicans are Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton.
The governor on Tuesday said he agreed with the party’s chairman, Rusty Hicks, on the plea for some candidates to drop out of the race.
“I confess, I agree,” the governor said in Los Angeles at an event promoting his new book on Tuesday night.
“I hadn’t really processed it because at this moment in history with all the peril and promise that marks this moment for California, the most un-Trump state to have a Republican running, there is no margin for error. This is a moment for real self-reflection, is about you or about me? Or is it about all of us. The stakes couldn’t be higher. All I’ll say is, choose wisely.”
The governor earlier in the day told CBS Los Angeles, “I’m not putting my thumb on anything at the moment, but there may be a moment in the next few months.”
The latest comments mark a significant shift in the governor’s position.
On Monday he told reporters, “You know my position, I don’t talk about this governor’s race.”
“I have to let it go, I have to accept the fact that I have a sell-by date and I’m a milk carton,” Newsom said at the time.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
