California Democratic Party chair won’t say if he’s glad Xavier Becerra stayed in the governor’s race | CA Politics 360
Rusty Hicks, thank you so much for making time for us. It’s great to be with you as party chairman. I mean, how are you feeling days out from election day? Well, certainly we’re, um, uh, ready for this primary election to be over, uh, encouraging everyone and anyone who has *** ballot sitting on their desk or on their kitchen table to make sure they get, uh, uh, get it returned. Do you still have fears or concerns of two Republicans moving on to the general election and locking Democrats out of the governor’s race? Well, certainly the race looks different today than it did 3 months ago. Uh, we do see *** handful of candidates consolidating votes on both the Republican and the Democratic sides. I have always been, uh, committed to ensuring to do what is required to get *** Democrat into the general election, and we’re moving closer to doing exactly that. And I mean on that note you and the party ultimately released *** series of polls to try to encourage some of those lower polling candidates to consider getting out of the race if their campaigns weren’t viable. I mean one of those lower polling Democrats earlier this year was Javier Becerra. I mean, are you glad that he did not get out? Well, I think it’s important to remember that the California voter index, that project was about providing information to candidates and their campaigns, whether they were at the top of the polls at that particular moment or at the bottom. Uh, it was also to inform party leaders, members of the media, and the public about which candidacy and which candidate had the most viable, uh, campaign and opportunity to make it into the, into the general election. Uh, certainly the, the, the month of April had *** lot of twists and turns, uh, and candidates, that was in many ways *** watershed moment for *** lot of candidates to determine, uh, if they really did have the opportunity to, to become viable in order to have *** real opportunity of moving on to the general election. In the heat of, of the May campaign, uh, certainly Javier Becerra took advantage of that, uh, and ultimately has consolidated both Democratic and independent votes, *** pretty broad coalition, uh, heading into election day. But I mean, to the question, are you glad that he did not drop out? Well, ultimately, as I said before, we were always doing what was required to ensure that we get *** strong Democrat into the general election. Uh, you know, I don’t think anyone could have predicted as to how this race would turn out. I think it was important, uh, for both Javier Becerra, but Tom Steyer and all the other candidates to have good quality data and information heading into, uh, the month of May, and that’s exactly what we provided. Democrats, I mean, you sort of alluded to this in the beginning. I mean Democrats are clutching their ballots right now still. The latest data showing that *** lot of them are not motivated to at least get their ballots in early at this point. What do you make of that? Well, I think it’s, it’s, uh, primary voters, Democratic primary voters, uh, looking at *** crowded field, wanting to ensure that their ballot, uh, is, is, is used in the most strategic way possible to ensure that they support *** candidate that has *** real chance to get into the general election. I think voters recognize what is at stake in California, what is at stake for our nation in many ways around the world, and know that California leads, uh, in this particular moment and want to ensure that that vote counts. At the end of the day, uh, I, I know. That, uh, Democratic primary voters are going to have their voices heard. So yes, that vote may come in late, maybe later than normal, but ultimately it will be there, uh, by election day that that I’m confident of. Is there anything you wish you would have done differently over the last few months? Uh, look, as I, as I’ve said now for the 3rd time, uh, we were, we didn’t, we came out of the convention and didn’t have an endorsement, and yet that didn’t mean that our work was done. Um, at 3 months ago, uh, there was *** 1 in 41 in 5 chance of seeing, uh, 2 Republicans in the general election, and so it was important that party leaders continue to take steps to ensure that we provided information and data, not just to candidates, but to everyone involved. Uh, to ensure that we avoided that potential situation, um, and we’re moving closer to that. We’re not there yet, um, but I certainly expect us to be there on election day. Rusty, before I let you go, what is the Democratic Party doing between now and election day to try to drive out those voters? Well, certainly, uh, first and foremost, just trying to inform and remind and educate everyone as to how best to get their ballot back. Uh, certainly dropping it off in an official box is the best way to go, voting in person either before or on election day. Uh, mailing it in the ballot, I, I guess if you’re right near the, uh, county registrar’s office, maybe it’s OK to put it in ***, in *** postbox at this point, but you want to make sure that that ballot is in the hand, uh, of the county registrar to ensure it gets counted. But we’re also continuing to do the work that we do on *** year-round basis, engaging voters. Uh, uh, on the doors, on the phones, via text message, uh, uh, community meetings and coffees and house parties and those conversations, we continue to do that work and we’ll do that work heading into the general election. All right, Rusty Hicks, chairman of the California Democratic Party, we really appreciate your time and insight. Thank you. Great to be with you. Take care.
California Democratic Party chair won’t say if he’s glad Xavier Becerra stayed in the governor’s race | CA Politics 360
Updated: 8:25 AM PDT May 31, 2026
After spending months encouraging lower-polling candidates in the California governor’s race to drop out, the leader of the state’s Democratic Party would not say if he’s glad an initially lower-polling Democrat now leading the polls, Xavier Becerra, stayed in the race. California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks was repeatedly asked in a California Politics 360 interview that aired Sunday. Before Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race, Becerra was polling at around 5% in March. After Swalwell ended his campaign, powerful Democratic groups began to coalesce around Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. A new Berkeley IGS poll released Thursday showed Becerra leading the pack with 25% of support from likely voters. “Ultimately, we were always doing what was required to ensure we had a strong Democrat into the General Election. I don’t think anyone could have predicted as to how this race would turn out,” Hicks said. Hicks and the California Democratic Party released a series of polls starting in March after the party could not agree on a candidate at its endorsing convention earlier this year. Some in the party feared splitting votes among eight top Democratic candidates in the primary could end up locking the party out of the governor’s race in November. The party’s polls were used to encourage lower-polling candidates to assess the viability of their campaigns. Most of the candidates ignored them. “I think it was important for Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer to have good, quality, information heading into the month of May and that’s exactly what we’ve provided,” Hicks said in the interview Sunday. “More and more California Democrats are supporting Xavier Becerra with each passing day,” said Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Becerra’s campaign, in response to Hick’s responses to the questions. “We are proud and grateful to have their support.” Hicks was asked during the California Politics 360 interview how he and the California Democratic Party are feeling days ahead of election night. “Certainly, we’re ready for this primary election to be over,” Hicks said. Hicks didn’t directly answer the question when asked if he had any regrets about how he and the party handled the lead up to the primary election Tuesday. Hicks weighed in on the lower voter turnout so far among Democrats. “Democratic primary voters looking at a crowded field, wanting to ensure their ballot is used in the most strategic way possible, I think voters recognize what is at stake in California, what is at stake in our nation,” he said. “I know Democratic primary voters are going to have their voices heard,” Hicks said. “Yes, that vote may come in later than normal but ultimately it will be there.” KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
After spending months encouraging lower-polling candidates in the California governor’s race to drop out, the leader of the state’s Democratic Party would not say if he’s glad an initially lower-polling Democrat now leading the polls, Xavier Becerra, stayed in the race.
California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks was repeatedly asked in a California Politics 360 interview that aired Sunday.
Before Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race, Becerra was polling at around 5% in March. After Swalwell ended his campaign, powerful Democratic groups began to coalesce around Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. A new Berkeley IGS poll released Thursday showed Becerra leading the pack with 25% of support from likely voters.
“Ultimately, we were always doing what was required to ensure we had a strong Democrat into the General Election. I don’t think anyone could have predicted as to how this race would turn out,” Hicks said.
Hicks and the California Democratic Party released a series of polls starting in March after the party could not agree on a candidate at its endorsing convention earlier this year. Some in the party feared splitting votes among eight top Democratic candidates in the primary could end up locking the party out of the governor’s race in November.
The party’s polls were used to encourage lower-polling candidates to assess the viability of their campaigns. Most of the candidates ignored them.
“I think it was important for Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer to have good, quality, information heading into the month of May and that’s exactly what we’ve provided,” Hicks said in the interview Sunday.
“More and more California Democrats are supporting Xavier Becerra with each passing day,” said Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Becerra’s campaign, in response to Hick’s responses to the questions. “We are proud and grateful to have their support.”
Hicks was asked during the California Politics 360 interview how he and the California Democratic Party are feeling days ahead of election night.
“Certainly, we’re ready for this primary election to be over,” Hicks said.
Hicks didn’t directly answer the question when asked if he had any regrets about how he and the party handled the lead up to the primary election Tuesday.
Hicks weighed in on the lower voter turnout so far among Democrats.
“Democratic primary voters looking at a crowded field, wanting to ensure their ballot is used in the most strategic way possible, I think voters recognize what is at stake in California, what is at stake in our nation,” he said.
“I know Democratic primary voters are going to have their voices heard,” Hicks said. “Yes, that vote may come in later than normal but ultimately it will be there.”
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.