(INSID CALIFORNIA POLITICS) \u2014 This week on Inside California Politics, host Nikki Laurenzo is joined by political analysts Rob Stutzman and Andrew Acosta to discuss the latest developments in the gubernatorial race and the upcoming ICP debate between top candidates.<\/p>\n
Rep. Eric Swalwell, who was a top contender according to many polls, suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress after several women came forward with accusations of sexual assault and other misconduct.<\/p>\n
Neither political strategist could come up with a similar fall from grace in modern state history.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpontaneous combustion,\u201d Stutzman said. \u201cGoes from the assumed next governor of California to the next Bill Cosby in the matter of a week. Fell all the way out of Congress. Now under criminal investigation. I can\u2019t find anything comparable. It is stunning just how quickly it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Swalwell\u2019s departure from the race, Nexstar decided to commission a new poll<\/a> to determine which candidates would qualify for its April 22 debate.<\/p>\n Previously, former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton were set to join Swalwell at the debate. Following the new poll, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also qualified for the debate<\/a>.<\/p>\n The sudden absence of a former frontrunner has also sent powerful groups and companies in the state in search of a new candidate to back but both analysts agreed that it may be better for them to wait.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy at this point jump into the middle of something and get it wrong again?\u201d Acosta said.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n