(Inside California Politics) — Two political insiders weighed in on the governor’s race — and the race for mayor of Los Angeles — in a panel discussion this week hosted by Inside California Politics host Nikki Laurenzo.

Asked about a new Inside California Politics/Emerson poll showing a lead for Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta joked that “the race is over.”

“I’m kidding,” Acosta said. “I think if we were going to be on this show every time there was a poll, we’d be on it every two days. Because all we’re going to see between now and election day are new polls.”

Despite fluctuations in individual surveys, he said there haven’t been major changes in the overall state of the race. 25% of voters are still undecided, which Acosta said means the contest is still fluid.

“When you see this much undecided … you start to worry about turnout — worry in that, if you care about healthy civic engagement, you want higher than that 40% type turnout,” he said.

That’s because, in the view of both Acosta and Republican strategist Rob Stutzman, the outcome of a Democrat-versus-Republican general election means the contest is all but over, even if the contest is marked by low enthusiasm and low turnout.

“If it’s two Democrats, it’s game on… As a Republican, that’s what I want,” Stutzman said. “If it’s two ‘Ds,’ they’re going to have to talk about the issues.”

Big spenders

A new Politico/UC Berkeley poll shows Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer rising in the race — but is his major self-funding strategy actually working?

Acosta said he thinks former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter’s chances are underrated. She hasn’t yet started spending big, and a large number of voters say they would list Porter as their second choice. That could help Porter if the other two top Democrats, Steyer and Swalwell, aim at each other.

Stutzman thinks San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s campaign needs the independent expenditure that’s receiving Big Tech backing to start spending: “People need to know he exists.”

“Their money needs to come in behind Mahan,” Stutzman said. “If it does, they get their proxy fight: tech versus labor.”

The LA Mamdani?

The Inside California Politics poll shows incumbent mayor Karen Bass leading, but she’s receiving less than 20% of voters’ support, as more than half of Angelenos are undecided.

Can Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman replicate the meteoric rise Zohran Mamdani managed to pull off in New York City against a similarly unpopular mayor?

“It’s a special candidate in New York, and I don’t see any candidate in LA that can fit that and become viral with these videos,” Acosta said.

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