Crowded Democratic field could hand California to the GOP
TL;DR
LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano argues that a crowded Democratic field for California’s governor risks letting two Republicans advance to the general election; he criticizes party Chair Rusty Hicks’s call for low-polling candidates to drop out as anti-democratic 'el dedazo' and asserts democracy should determine the race. He notes Latinos are a plurality in the state but lack a clear statewide candidate, while top Democrats like Swalwell, Steyer, and Porter are closely matched with Republicans such as Hilton and Bianco in polls, illustrating how the field could produce a GOP win in the Trump era.
- Commentary: Too many Democrats in California governor's race? That's a great thing Los Angeles Times
- California Governor’s Race: Here’s Who’s Running in 2026 The New York Times
- Democratic angst and gerrymandering threaten California’s political reforms CalMatters
- California Democrats defy call from party to abandon crowded race: ‘Voters choose the next governor’ The Guardian
- Democratic candidates in CA governor race asked to drop out if they aren't viable, but no one wants to ABC7 Los Angeles
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