Several
other candidates, including Elizabeth Warren acolyte Katie Porter and former
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, fell short. This was the most expensive
election in California history, with $316 million spent. Two hundred million of that came from Steyer tapping his personal war chest, along
with a myriad of corporate donations for Becerra and Hilton.
In any
case, Californians will have to wait a few more days for the primary dust to
settle, and then it’s on to November to decide on who will replace the
presumably presidential primary–bound Gavin Newsom and sort out the myriad
challenges he’ll leave behind: skyrocketing costs of living, a lack of housing,
an increasing number of climate change–driven wildfires, and the constant
animosity of the Trump administration.
With
Becerra already called as one of the candidates, and Hilton leading by several
percentage points over Steyer, it looks as if the final showdown will be
between Becerra and Hilton. If so, Becerra, the sole Democrat in the race, will
likely take the state. Why that matters nationwide is that Becerra, like many
veteran Democrats, is a poster child for much of the Democratic leadership—experienced
but moderate. While I would like to give Becerra a chance to prove himself, as
he stands, he will be much like—well, Gavin Newsom.