California’s crowded governor race tests Democratic resolve and voter turnout
California’s crowded governor’s race has Democrats divided and turnout unusually slow as the top-two primary nears, with about 60 candidates and no clear front-runner; voters are weighing familiar figures like Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer against others, while a Republican field including Steve Hilton could tilt outcomes if Dems don’t consolidate. Polls show Becerra and Hilton leading among likely voters, with Steyer, Bianco, and Porter also in the mix, but many voters remain undecided and wary of billionaires or establishment politicians, resulting in a cautious, less-than-excited mood among partisans.