California House Democrats are concerned that their party’s inability to cull a crowded gubernatorial field could lead to Republicans taking the top two slots in the nonpartisan primary.
After a string of polls showing the GOP contenders — Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton — hovering around the top two, the California Democratic Party chair issued a plea for low-polling Democrats to drop out.
Californians in Congress agree that the glut of Democratic candidates could allow Bianco and Hilton to sneak through to the general with only around a third of the total vote.
“There’s going to come a time where if you don’t have the resources to communicate and you’re stuck in that bottom tier, you’re doing more harm than good,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, the highest-ranking Hill Democrat from California, told us.
“If you’re at 1%, if you’re at 3%, what are you doing?” Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) added.
“It’s simple math,” Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) said. “We need consolidation.”
Where things stand. Democrats concede that the current state of the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom is a mess. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who left office in 2011, was the state’s last Republican governor.
An increasing number of Golden State Democrats are coalescing around Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.), who is the top Democrat in many polls. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and billionaire Tom Steyer are seen as the other top Democratic contenders.
That’s not all, however. Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former state Controller Betty Yee, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are also running. All of them are polling in the low single digits.
The crowded field creates a dynamic where Hilton and Bianco narrowly lead the RealClearPolitics polling average, at 15% and 14% respectively. Swalwell is in third with 12% average support, followed by Porter at 11% and Steyer at 9%.
“It would not represent the ultimate will of the voters if we have two Republicans and no Democrats,” Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.) said. “Folks who are in the race need to look carefully at their real chances.”
Swalwell’s take. Swalwell’s campaign has the backing of Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and ten other California House Democrats. Swalwell told us Wednesday “it’s an individual decision for everyone” when asked if lower-polling Democrats should exit the race, before noting one former gubernatorial candidate has already endorsed Swalwell’s bid.
“I’m focused on where we are on the top, growing our lead and creating separation,” Swalwell said.
On Thursday, former state Assemblymember Ian Calderon dropped out of the contest to back Swalwell.
