One day after California’s Democratic party urged candidates without a “viable path” in the state’s crucial race for governor to drop out, the crowded field showed no sign of winnowing down.
At least nine Democrats are in the running to replace the outgoing governor, Gavin Newsom, with no clear frontrunner, which has fueled fears that the number of candidates could lead to two Republicans advancing to the November election.
Rusty Hicks, the chair of California’s Democratic party, warned in an open letter on Tuesday about that “unlikely” but “possible” scenario and called on candidates to “act in a responsible manner with the opportunities and support we have earned”.
“I believe it starts with a candid assessment of the political landscape around you, an honest reflection on your viability to win the race and the courage to make a tough choice,” Hicks wrote.
He advised candidates not to run in the primary if they don’t have a path to reach the general election, and said they should be prepared to suspend their campaigns within the next month if they hadn’t made “meaningful progress” toward a primary win.
The packed field of Democratic candidates includes former secretary of health and human services and state attorney general Xavier Becerra; former state lawmaker Ian Calderon; San Jose’s mayor, Matt Mahan; former congresswoman Katie Porter; billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer; the Congress member Eric Swalwell; the state schools superintendent, Tony Thurmond; former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa; and former state controller Betty Yee.
The Republican candidates include Chad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff, and the conservative political commentator Steve Hilton.
The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the race had split into two distinct groups, with polling indicating Hilton, Porter, Bianco, Swalwell and Steyer are in close competition, while the other candidates trail behind.
The state’s Democratic party did not endorse a candidate during its recent convention, although Swalwell earned support from about 24% of delegates, and Yee and Becerra followed.
Candidates were critical of Hicks’s letter, arguing that the decision must be left to voters.
“Bernie Sanders was right. Our political system is rigged, corrupted by the political elites, the wealthy and the well-connected,” Thurmond said in a statement. “The California Democratic party is essentially telling every candidate of color in the race for governor to drop out.”
Yee told Politico in a statement that voters were tired of “insider political theater” and “the drama, the pollsters and the powerful elites”, while Mahan’s campaign told media that “voters choose the next governor – not political gatekeepers”.
In his letter, Hicks said that while suggestions might be viewed as “overly harsh”, they were necessary to ensure a Democrat wins the governorship, and because a Democratic loss in the deep blue state could “imperil Democrats’ chances to retake the House”.
Newsom has said he understands why Hicks sent the letter. “There is some concern,” he said of the race.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
