California Democrats are panicking as a crowded and uninspiring field of gubernatorial candidates is raising the real possibility two Republicans to advance out of the June primary.
The prospect of the “zombie campaigns” leading to a Republican governor for the first time since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011 has created a “sh—show,” one Democratic state legislator told The Post.
“I’ve never seen a big race like this before,” the legislator said. “And I am worried that we’re going to have two really whacko Republicans.”
As hundreds gathered this weekend for the California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco, another state legislator took aim at the rudderless leadership of the Democratic Party under chair Rusty Hicks, who has said he has no intention of leaning on candidates to bow out. Only the top two candidates — regardless of party affiliation — will emerge out of what’s called a jungle primary to run in the general election in November.
“You would think the party chair would be actively doing something to prevent a catastrophe,” a second state legislator told The Post.
“But I’m not hearing anything,”
The latest polling shows two Republicans — former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — leading the crowded field with 17% and 14% support, respectively.
Meanwhile, support for the top Democratic candidates is split fairly evenly between Rep. Eric Swalwell (14%), former Congresswoman Katie Porter (12%) and progressive billionaire Tom Steyer (9%).
The flailing group of Dem candidates desperately seeking to gain traction also includes San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond, former Secretary of Health Xavier Becerra and former state controller Betty Yee.
Despite the rising anxiety among Democratic leaders, Hicks — a former Southern California labor boss who has served as Democrats’ state party chair since 2019 — said he believes the field will “naturally winnow itself.”
He added, “California Democrats will do what’s required to ensure we have a strong candidate coming out of the primary.”
A political consultant working on one of the Democratic campaigns for governor wasn’t so sure.
“There are only two people who can lean on people to get out of the race: [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi,” the source told The Post.
However, Pelosi only briefly touched on electing a Democrat in a “very important” governor’s race during her convention speech.
Villaraigosa, who was garnering just 3% support in a poll by Emerson College, told The Post that he has no intention of bowing out of the race as he attended a party Friday night at Tropisueño, a Mexican restaurant and bar in the South of Market area.
“At the end of the day, everybody has a right to run,” Villaraigosa said. “The notion that two Republicans can win [the primary] is poppycock.”
Asked if he seriously thinks he can win, Villaraigosa deadpanned: “Without question.”
Matt Dorsey, a San Francisco supervisor who is supporting Mahan’s candidacy for governor, wasn’t quite so sure.
“I’m worried about two Republicans polling really well and Democrats — we’re not coalescing around anybody,” Dorsey said.
“I’m glad I’m not the political consultant for anybody in this race, because it’s gonna be a wild ride.”
