The California Democratic Party’s gubernatorial primary election has been characterized by a crowded field of candidates, the party’s failure to endorse a contender, and calls for some candidates to withdraw to prevent a fragmented vote. These developments have taken place amidst a prominent debate cancellation over candidate selection criteria and ongoing party concerns about the potential for two Republican candidates to advance to the general election.
Party Convention Fails to Endorse Gubernatorial Candidate
The California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco, which featured eight of the nine Democratic candidates vying for governor, concluded without an endorsement. To secure the party's endorsement, a candidate needed to achieve 60% support from 3,500 delegates. No candidate reached this threshold.
Preliminary results released during the convention indicated Representative Eric Swalwell led with 24% of delegate votes, with former State Controller Betty Yee receiving 17% and former State Attorney General Xavier Becerra receiving 14%. These delegate support levels reportedly differed from their standings in general voter polls.
During the convention, candidates presented their platforms. Common pledges included making housing more affordable and supporting a single-payer health care system. Many candidates also expressed opposition to the administration of then-President Donald Trump. Billionaire candidate Tom Steyer advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy and largely self-funded his campaign. Representative Eric Swalwell focused on themes of opposing federal immigration enforcement. Former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter proposed eliminating state income tax for households earning less than $100,000. Former State Controller Betty Yee and former State Attorney General Xavier Becerra emphasized their experience, with Yee highlighting expertise in state budget matters. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, described as a moderate candidate, advocated for a balanced approach and has received campaign contributions from tech executives.
Discussions at the convention also touched on the influence of campaign finances, particularly Steyer's use of personal wealth for advertising and Mahan's funding from tech industry figures.
Party Leadership Urges Candidate Withdrawals
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks publicly requested that Democratic gubernatorial candidates with limited paths to victory consider withdrawing from the race. Hicks conveyed this message in an open letter to candidates, emphasizing the need for them to assess the viability of their campaigns. This public request by a party leader was described as unusual in California politics.
Hicks expressed concern about the potential for a Republican to win the California gubernatorial race, citing the national political context. The primary concern was that a large field of Democratic candidates could splinter the party's vote.
Under California's top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. Party officials and other stakeholders... voiced worries that vote splintering could result in two Republican candidates securing the top two primary positions, despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans in the state. Such an outcome, they stated, could negatively impact Democratic voter turnout and down-ballot races.
Candidate and Stakeholder Responses
Most major Democratic candidates largely did not heed Hicks's call to withdraw. Candidates such as former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Controller Betty Yee, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan expressed views that the decision of who should run rests with voters, not political gatekeepers. Tony Thurmond, who is Black and Latino, and Xavier Becerra, a Latino candidate, along with others, questioned if the call for withdrawals disproportionately affected candidates of color.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stated Hicks's letter did not affect his candidacy. Ian Calderon, a former Assemblyman, was reported as the only major Democratic candidate to withdraw from the race, endorsing Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Gubernatorial Candidates Overview
The diverse field of Democratic candidates included:
- Representative Eric Swalwell
- Former State Controller Betty Yee
- Former State Attorney General Xavier Becerra
- Former Congresswoman Katie Porter
- Environmental activist Tom Steyer
- San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
- Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
- Former state lawmaker Ian Calderon (withdrew)
Republican candidates mentioned in polling and party discussions included conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jon Slavet also withdrew, reportedly strengthening support for Hilton and Bianco.
Polling Data
Recent polls, including those by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), indicated a close competition among several candidates. Polling data frequently showed Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco among the top contenders, alongside Democrats Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, and Tom Steyer. Other candidates typically received less than 5% support, but collectively, these candidates accounted for a significant portion of the vote, with some polls showing 10% undecided.
USC Debate Cancellation Amid Diversity Controversy
A gubernatorial debate co-sponsored by the University of Southern California (USC) and KABC-TV Los Angeles was canceled less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to occur. The cancellation followed days of criticism regarding the exclusion of prominent candidates of color from the participation list.
USC stated that concerns about its selection criteria had "created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters." The university and co-sponsor KABC-TV could not reach an agreement to expand the field of participants. USC described the cancellation as a "difficult decision" and defended the independence, objectivity, and integrity of the selection methodology.
The original debate criteria had invited five candidates consistently leading public polls: Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Eric Swalwell, and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, along with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. All six of these invited candidates are white. Notably excluded were non-white Democratic candidates such as former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former State Controller Betty Yee.
The exclusion sparked criticism from campaigns of the uninvited candidates.
Becerra commented, "We fought. We won!"
Legislative leaders urged a boycott if excluded candidates were not invited, and commended USC for the cancellation. Conservative commentator Steve Hilton criticized USC, and Democrat Tom Steyer offered to organize a new event inviting all major candidates.
The debate's selection criteria, developed by a USC political science professor, involved a fundraising score calculated by dividing funds raised by days in the race. Critics argued this method penalized early entrants and candidates relying on small-dollar donations. Academics from multiple universities defended the methodology as data-driven. Concerns were also raised about the inclusion of San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a recent entrant, with questions about his ties to USC's donor community and the debate's co-sponsoring center. These connections were denied by the individuals involved and the co-sponsors.
The debate cancellation occurred less than two months before ballots were to be sent to voters for the gubernatorial primary.
Broader Party Themes
Beyond the gubernatorial race, the convention and broader discussions highlighted Democratic opposition to the administration of then-President Donald Trump. Party figures like Senator Adam Schiff and Congressmen Robert Garcia and Ro Khanna were noted for their work and rhetoric critical of the Trump administration. Concerns were raised about federal policy changes, including healthcare and immigration enforcement.
Internal party debates also emerged, particularly regarding the tech industry. Lorena Gonzalez of the California Labor Federation cautioned against deference to tech companies, arguing they contributed to broader structural issues affecting working-class people. Activists outside the convention advocated for policies protecting trans youth and immigrant families.