Fearing the prospect of a Republican winning California\u2019s gubernatorial race, state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks on Tuesday urged his party\u2019s candidates who lack a viable path to victory to drop out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,\u201d Hicks wrote in an open letter<\/a> to the politicians vying to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom. \u201cI recognize my suggestions are hard for many to contemplate and may be even viewed as overly harsh by some.\u201d<\/p>\n Hicks did not name the Democrats he wants out of the race, but such a public admonishment by a party leader is rare in California politics. <\/p>\n Even though the odds are relatively low, California cannot risk having a Republican elected as the next governor at a time when President Trump is in the White House, Hicks said.<\/p>\n \u201c[S]o much is at stake in our Nation and so many are counting on the leadership of California Democrats to stand up and speak out at this historic moment,\u201d Hicks wrote. \u201cCalifornia\u2019s leadership on the world stage is significantly harder if a Democrat is not elected as our next Governor.\u201d<\/p>\n Hicks urged Democrats languishing at the bottom of the field of candidates to drop out before the Friday deadline to officially file to run for governor \u2014 to ensure their names do not appear on the June primary ballot.<\/p>\n Within hours of the letter\u2019s release former state Controller Betty Yee and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond \u2014 two of the candidates lowest in recent opinion polls \u2014 officially filed papers to run for governor.<\/p>\n Thurmond, who is Black and Latino, posted a video accusing the party<\/a> of urging every person of color to drop out of the race.<\/p>\n \u201cBernie Sanders was right. Our political system is rigged, corrupted by the political elites, the wealthy and well connected,\u201d he said in the video, which was posted on the social media platform X. \u201cThe California Democratic Party is essentially telling every person of color in the race for Governor to drop out.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the party favored three flawed white candidates \u2014 billionaire Tom Steyer, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, this act doesn\u2019t reflect the Democratic Party of 2026,\u201d Thurmond said. \u201cAren\u2019t we supposed to be the party who embraces democracy?\u201d<\/p>\n Under California\u2019s top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the June primary advance to the November general election, regardless of party.<\/p>\n With nine top Democrats running, the fear is that the candidates will splinter their party\u2019s vote and allow the top two Republicans in the race to finish in first and second place. This is despite Democratic registered voters outnumbering Republicans in the state by almost 2 to 1, and no GOP candidate winning a statewide election since 2006.<\/p>\n Having two Republicans competing in the November election would be devastating to Democratic voter turnout and could hurt party candidates in pivotal down-ballot races.<\/p>\n \u201cThe result would present a real risk to winning the congressional seats required and imperil Democrats\u2019 chances to retake the House, cut Donald Trump\u2019s term in half, and spare our Nation from the pain many have endured since January 2025,\u201d Hicks said in his letter. \u201cWe simply can\u2019t let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that five candidates lead the contest<\/a> \u2014 former Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and hedge fund founder Tom Steyer among Democrats and conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, both Republicans. Hilton and Bianco have led all candidates in other polls over the last few months. No other candidate received the support of more than 5% of likely voters.<\/p>\n The field of Republican candidates narrowed even more this week when Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jon Slavet<\/a> announced he was dropping out of the governor\u2019s race. <\/a>Though Slavet was not well known around the state, his departure further consolidates GOP support behind Hilton and Bianco, probably adding to concerns among Democrats. <\/p>\n After Hicks issued his directive, three influential leaders in California Democratic politics said they shared his concerns.<\/p>\n Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas echoed Hicks\u2019 words.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that candidates don\u2019t file if they aren\u2019t ready or able to go the distance,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cWith respect, they know who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n Lorena Gonzalez, the head of the California Federation of Labor Unions, said she worries that Democratic candidates who are drawing low single-digit support in the polls and remain in the race could tilt the election.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re in a situation where a candidate who pulls 2 or 3% could make all the difference whether there\u2019s two Republicans and anti-union folks in the runoff or if there\u2019s not,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The federation began its endorsement process last week, and there were difficult conversations with gubernatorial candidates not only about their political beliefs but also about their viability. The umbrella group of unions is expected to make an announcement about any potential endorsement on March 16.<\/p>\n Jodi Hicks, chief executive and president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said it was imperative to block the \u201creal possibility\u201d of two Republicans advancing to the general election because of the deep cuts that the Trump administration has made to healthcare, including access to abortion.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the severity of this moment, we urge candidates to consider how continuing their candidacy may put California\u2019s values and reproductive freedom at risk,\u201d she said. \u201cThe stakes are too high for all of us, but especially for immigrant communities, transgender individuals, the over 15 million patients enrolled in Medi-Cal, and the over 25,000 patients a week who access essential healthcare at Planned Parenthood health centers.\u201d<\/p>\n