The race for California’s next governor is turning into quite the spectacle, and not in the smooth, polished way one might imagine. As the state Democratic Party finds itself in a bit of a pickle, having no strong frontrunner following the exit of Eric Swalwell, concerns are rising about potential Republican dominance in the upcoming primary. Rusty Hicks, the party chair, is waving a caution flag, suggesting that splitting the Democratic vote among candidates could hand victory to Republicans like Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
Polling data reveals that Swalwell’s departure sent his once-promising support plummeting from 12% to less than 1%. Meanwhile, the winds seem to be in favor of Xavier Becerra, whose backing increased to 13%, putting him neck-and-neck with billionaire Tom Steyer. When the polling data starts really telling tales, it’s time for Democrats to strategize—because in California’s unique brand of politics, the top two from any party may just find their names on the November ballot.
With the stakes this high, will Democrats rally behind a single candidate, or will the primaries turn into a free-for-all? Buckle up, California; it looks like this is one ride no one wants to miss!
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
