(FOX40.COM) \u2014 California hasn\u2019t seen a gubernatorial primary this close since 1998, when an underdog defeated then-Rep. Jane Harman and wealthy businessman Al Checchi to win the Democratic nomination and, eventually, the governorship.<\/p>\n
Who better to analyze this year\u2019s close contest than that underdog \u2014 Gray Davis?<\/p>\n
The former governor talked with Inside California Politics host Nikki Laurenzo this week about the state of the race. Davis said he won\u2019t call on any Democratic candidates to drop out, despite urging from some party leaders for low-polling hopefuls to exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cTons and tons of people asked me to drop out,\u201d he said. \u201cThat obviously was fuel for the fire. I worked smarter, I worked harder, we got a lot of breaks and I ended up winning pretty handsomely.\u201d<\/p>\n
At this time in 1998, Davis said, he was polling in third place behind Checchi and Harman. (At the time, California did not have a top-two or \u201cjungle\u201d primary system.)<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not in the race, you can\u2019t take advantage of the breaks when they come your way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Davis said there are other ways to \u201corganically\u201d narrow the field, including donor consolidation behind frontrunners.<\/p>\n
The former governor said he \u201calmost certainly\u201d won\u2019t endorse, though he admitted he does have friends in the race. Those include Betty Yee (Davis\u2019 finance director) and Antonio Villaraigosa (Assembly speaker under Davis).<\/p>\n
Additionally, Davis said he isn\u2019t in favor of eliminating the top-two primary system.<\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley also joined Inside California Politics this week, discussing the ongoing partial government shutdown, his decision to run for reelection as an independent and more.<\/p>\n
Kiley weighed in on President Donald Trump\u2019s recent executive order targeting mail-in ballots. The ex-Republican congressman said he doesn\u2019t think the order will stand up in court.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe answer is not a nationwide executive order, because that simply isn\u2019t a power that rests with the executive branch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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