Amid a crowded race to become the next California governor, the state’s Democratic Party Chair urged candidates on Tuesday to consider dropping out if they “do not have a viable path to make it to the General Election.”Rusty Hicks’ open letter to Democratic candidates comes after the Democratic Party at a February state convention chose against endorsing anyone in the race for governor for the June primary election. He cited concerns about what having too large a pool of candidates would do in a race where there are two Republicans also in the gubernatorial race.Read the full letter here.California’s top-two system allows the top two vote-getters, regardless of political affiliation, to advance from the June primary to the November Election.Hicks said “the likelihood of two Republicans effectively ‘locking out'” Democrats from the race is “relatively low” but “not impossible.”|VIDEO BELOW | Will California voters have to decide between two Republicans for governor? | California Politics 360″It is imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” Hicks’ letter read.The Democratic chair stated that a Democrat not advancing past the primary could run the risk “for depressed Democratic turnout in California in November,” which he believes could “imperil” chances for Democrats to retake the U.S. House of Representatives.| RELATED READ | February survey shows five-way gridlock in California governor’s raceMidterm elections are typically where shifts in power could happen, which is a large reason for what prompted the national redistricting battle that resulted in California voters approving new congressional maps favoring Democrats through Proposition 50.Hicks is urging Democratic candidates to assess their candidacy and campaign. After doing so, he is asking those without “a viable path” to November to not file to place their name on the ballot for the primary election.If candidates still decide to file, Hicks also told candidates to “be prepared to suspend your campaign and endorse another candidate on or before April 15th if your campaign cannot show meaningful progress towards winning the Primary Election in the coming weeks.”Gov. Gavin Newsom will finish his second term as governor after this year and cannot run again under state law. Some of the top Democratic candidates include:Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaState Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony ThurmondFormer State Controller Betty YeeCongressmember Eric SwalwellFormer Congressmember Katie PorterFormer Assemblymember Ian CalderonFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier BecerraBusinessman Tom SteyerDespite Hicks’ letter, Yee announced Tuesday that she will file candidacy papers for the governor’s race.Thurmond responded to Hicks’ letter on social platform X, accusing the party of “telling every candidate of color to drop out.”The two top GOP candidates are former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Amid a crowded race to become the next California governor, the state’s Democratic Party Chair urged candidates on Tuesday to consider dropping out if they “do not have a viable path to make it to the General Election.”

Rusty Hicks’ open letter to Democratic candidates comes after the Democratic Party at a February state convention chose against endorsing anyone in the race for governor for the June primary election. He cited concerns about what having too large a pool of candidates would do in a race where there are two Republicans also in the gubernatorial race.

Read the full letter here.

California’s top-two system allows the top two vote-getters, regardless of political affiliation, to advance from the June primary to the November Election.

Hicks said “the likelihood of two Republicans effectively ‘locking out'” Democrats from the race is “relatively low” but “not impossible.”

|VIDEO BELOW | Will California voters have to decide between two Republicans for governor? | California Politics 360

“It is imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” Hicks’ letter read.

The Democratic chair stated that a Democrat not advancing past the primary could run the risk “for depressed Democratic turnout in California in November,” which he believes could “imperil” chances for Democrats to retake the U.S. House of Representatives.

| RELATED READ | February survey shows five-way gridlock in California governor’s race

Midterm elections are typically where shifts in power could happen, which is a large reason for what prompted the national redistricting battle that resulted in California voters approving new congressional maps favoring Democrats through Proposition 50.

Hicks is urging Democratic candidates to assess their candidacy and campaign. After doing so, he is asking those without “a viable path” to November to not file to place their name on the ballot for the primary election.

If candidates still decide to file, Hicks also told candidates to “be prepared to suspend your campaign and endorse another candidate on or before April 15th if your campaign cannot show meaningful progress towards winning the Primary Election in the coming weeks.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom will finish his second term as governor after this year and cannot run again under state law.

Some of the top Democratic candidates include:

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaState Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony ThurmondFormer State Controller Betty YeeCongressmember Eric SwalwellFormer Congressmember Katie PorterFormer Assemblymember Ian CalderonFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier BecerraBusinessman Tom Steyer

Despite Hicks’ letter, Yee announced Tuesday that she will file candidacy papers for the governor’s race.

Thurmond responded to Hicks’ letter on social platform X, accusing the party of “telling every candidate of color to drop out.”

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“The California Democratic Party is essentially telling every candidate of color to drop out.”

Tony Thurmond’s take on CADEM Chair’s letter to candidates for governor, urging lower polling candidates to drop out.

“They want… all white candidates to stay in the race” https://t.co/iAm7pVvOON

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) March 3, 2026

The two top GOP candidates are former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel