California Governor Race Could Shut Out Democrats
24th March 2026
By many measures, California is the center of the Democratic Party’s political universe. The most populous U.S. state, it is home to both the party’s last presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and possibly its future one, Gov. Gavin Newsom.
But thanks to the state’s quirky electoral system and a crowded field of candidates, Democrats are suddenly facing an unlikely but unpleasant possibility: getting locked out of the general election this fall to succeed Newsom, who is not permitted to run for a third term.
Under California law, the top two finishers in the June 2 open primary contest will advance to November’s election, regardless of party.
Polls show the two leading Republican candidates, former British government aide and Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, are closely bunched with three Democrats: U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter and billionaire activist Tom Steyer.