California’s top Democratic party boss is urging candidates for governor to immediately drop out of the race to avoid a nightmare scenario of two Republicans advancing to the November primary.
Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks wrote in an open letter Tuesday that it is “not impossible” that two conservative Republicans, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and ex-Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, could wind up winning the top-two primary — locking Democrats out of the race entirely and forcing California’s largely left-leaning voters to decide between two MAGA-friendly conservatives for governor.
Hicks told every candidate to “honestly assess” their odds of winning ahead of a March 6 filing deadline.
“First, so much is at stake in our Nation and so many are counting on the leadership of California Democrats to stand up and speak out at this historic moment,” Hicks wrote.
“California’s leadership on the world stage is significantly harder if a Democrat is not elected as our next Governor.”
Christine Pelosi, a Democratic Party activist and daughter of Nancy Pelosi, chimed in urging Democrats to “GET REAL” on X.
“9 Democrats risk handing top 2 slots to Republicans in June,” Pelosi wrote.
Of the nine Dems of note in the race, none has come remotely close to capturing majority support.
Leading candidates according to a recent poll are Hilton and former Rep. Katie Porter, followed by Bianco. Top polling Democrats include Rep. Eric Swalwell and billionaire activist Tom Steyer.
Former Attorney Genera Xavier Becerra, former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Controller Betty Yee, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond and former assemblymember Ian Calderon were each polling at 5% or less according to a Public Policy Institute of California survey conducted in February.
“It’s important that candidates don’t file if they aren’t ready or able to go the distance. With respect, they know who they are,” California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said in a statement.
Two Republicans on the general election ballot in November could make it harder for Democrats to recapture the House of Representatives, Hicks noted.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday declined to make an endorsement in the race to succeed him, claiming he “hasn’t taken a look” at the crowded field.
“I honestly haven’t taken a look, nor do I think the public has,” Newsom told reporters at a press conference about CARE court, his struggling plan to help mentally ill people in the criminal justice system.
