The California governor's race has become a head-scratcher, with a massive field, no clear frontrunners, and one big scandal turning the high-stakes battle into a contest that lacks the usual star power. Xavier Becerra, the former US attorney general, arrived at Dulan's on Crenshaw in South Los Angeles with a grin, joined by Texas Democratic firebrand Jasmine Crockett to endorse his campaign. "We had to go search for one of the best fighters in the world," Becerra said, addressing a crowd of Black community leaders and union workers. Crockett urged Californians to choose "credentials" over "gimmicks" in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.
A Lackluster Race for the Golden State
For Democrats nationwide, the race to lead California—the most populous state, home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and the world's fourth-largest economy—has been uninspiring. Unlike past elections that featured movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, this year's campaign lacks main-character energy. One national strategist likened it to watching a "minor league baseball game when you thought you had a ticket to the World Series." The absence of Kamala Harris, top party figures passing on a run, and allegations of sexual abuse have converged in a helter-skelter but high-stakes battle.
Fundamental Questions for Democrats
Mike Madrid, a former political director of the California Republican Party and now a prominent anti-Trump commentator, said the Democratic Party is struggling to define itself. "In the Trump era, especially in a state as blue as California, the party has defined itself almost entirely on what it is against, not what it's for. Now that it has this choice to make, it doesn't know what to do."
With days left before the 2 June primary, Becerra stands a chance to advance to the November general election. Just weeks ago, he was stuck at 3% in the polls, one of over half a dozen Democrats urged to drop out. He ignored those calls. Now, he is locked in a three-way contest with billionaire investor Tom Steyer, the top choice of progressives, and British-born Fox News personality Steve Hilton, a Republican endorsed by Donald Trump. Under California's primary system, the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party.
No Precedent for Such a Crowded Field
Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at several universities, said there is no precedent in modern California political history for a field this big or amorphous. High-profile Democrats like Newsom, Harris, and Nancy Pelosi have not endorsed anyone, while labor and other powerful forces are split among candidates. Political fortunes could still change. Many Democrats are holding onto their ballots, hoping the field will settle as attack ads fly. Steyer argues that Becerra is a "career politician" with management failures, while Becerra accuses Steyer of trying to "buy his way" into the governor's mansion.
Twists and Turns in the Primary
Rusty Hicks, chair of the state Democratic Party, acknowledged the "twists and turns" of a primary he described as "in many ways, crazy." When the contest began, Joe Biden was president and Dianne Feinstein was still serving. Then Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, raising hopes she might run for governor, but she ruled it out last July. Democrats scrambled for alternatives, recruiting US Senator Alex Padilla (who declined) and Attorney General Rob Bonta (who also passed). The field grew, but no one with Harris's profile entered.
Left was a roster of Democrats with résumés but little star power, including Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Controller Betty Yee, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. None have more than 20% support. Surveys consistently showed two Republicans—Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco—leading, raising the possibility that Democrats might be locked out of the general election.
Scandal and Consolidation Attempts
As pressure to consolidate the field intensified, Swalwell began to edge ahead until several women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault. He denied the allegations but ended his campaign and resigned from Congress. In the aftermath, Steyer scooped up progressive support, including from the Bernie Sanders-aligned Our Revolution and a tepid recommendation from the Democratic Socialists of America. Hilton, with Trump's backing, rallied Republicans behind his call for "fresh thinking after 16 years of one-party rule."
Jodi Hicks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, which endorsed Becerra, wrote on X: "I had a fever dream that in California, socialists were supporting a billionaire and Maga was supporting an immigrant."
The California Dream Question
The Golden State has long been a vanguard for liberal governance, but an affordability crisis, high housing costs, a hostile federal government, and worsening natural disasters have infused the race with an existential question: Is the California dream broken? Republicans have sensed an opening. Hilton urges voters to turn the page on "years of Democrat failure," while in Los Angeles, former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt is attempting to unseat Mayor Karen Bass by tapping into anti-establishment currents.
Miriam Pawel, a journalist and author, said California suffers from the same problems as the rest of the country, only more so. However, voters are unlikely to see electing Republican leaders as the solution. In November, they overwhelmingly passed Prop 50 to redraw the state's congressional map to advantage Democrats in response to a Trump-sought gerrymander in Texas. Democrats enter the midterms with considerable strength, even as they remain frustrated with their party.
Candidates Offer Different Visions
Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, which endorsed Steyer, Porter, and Villaraigosa, said voters don't want business as usual. "If we don't take on the current economic system, we are going to continue to see wealth inequality grow in ways that are astounding. We have to do it in California so the rest of the nation can see it's possible."
At a Steyer event in East Los Angeles, Ruby Ortega, a 50-year-old veteran and healthcare aide, said she was struggling to pay rent and put gas in her car. "Things need to change. I'm tired of it. How are we supposed to live like this?" She remained undecided, liking Steyer's plan to make the wealthy pay more but also drawn to Becerra's record of suing the Trump administration 122 times.
Steyer has spent over $190 million of his personal fortune on his campaign, casting his wealth as an assurance that he "can't be bought." Betty Yee, who suspended her campaign and endorsed Steyer, said, "We don't have the luxury of returning to the status quo."
Centrist and Pragmatic Approaches
Mahan is offering a centrist approach that he says has reduced homelessness and increased affordable housing in San Jose. Despite early support from tech leaders like Google co-founder Sergey Brin and developer Rick Caruso, Mahan has struggled to break out. He argues he is the best alternative for voters seeking "someone who will be a fixer of our problems."
Many California Democrats are waiting to return their ballots, holding out for more clarity and polling. Greg Bergantz, a leader with Indivisible El Dorado, said, "I want everyone to vote, but I hope Democrats will be strategic. Things are topsy-turvy, and we don't want to do anything that makes Trump happy."
Boring and Dull May Be In
Some observers argue the race is a return to the norm for a state that has embraced technocrats and workhorses. Madrid said, "I think Californians want a governor whose name they don't remember." That could explain Becerra's unlikely ascent. An experienced Democrat with a compelling biography, he admits he is "not the slickest" candidate. Garry South, who helped elect Gray Davis in 1998, said voters often reach for the steady choice. "When people are considering who they want to be governor of the biggest state, there is a certain amount of pragmatism that sets in."
South saw echoes of the 1998 campaign, when Davis, whose first name some joked matched his personality, surprised pundits and won. Davis spokesperson Michael Bustamante told the Washington Post in 1999, "Boring and dull are in. Just look at Gray Davis." Bustamante is now working for Becerra's campaign.
At the breakfast at Dulan's, Crockett argued passionately that the governor's race is bigger than California. "I remember a presidential election where people wanted to talk about everything but qualifications. And now our democracy hangs by a thread."
