Democrats' fear rising that too many candidates in governor's race could lead to a Republican victory - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Seema Mehta, Nicole Nixon

February 21, 2026

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Democrats in California are growing increasingly concerned that a highly competitive gubernatorial race could lead to a Republican victory due to the state’s unique primary system and the crowded field of Democratic candidates. With nine prominent Democrats running for governor, party leaders fear that the fractured vote could allow Republicans to advance to the general election under the “jungle primary” system, where the top two vote-getters—regardless of party affiliation—face off in November. This scenario has sparked calls from Democratic officials and activists, including state party chairman Rusty Hicks and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for candidates lagging in the polls to drop out to avoid splitting the vote and weakening the party’s chances. The fear is not unfounded: in 2012, a similar situation occurred in a San Bernardino County congressional race, where four Democrats split the vote, allowing a Republican to win. Now, with conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco leading in recent polls, both Republicans are tied for first place at 15.5% each, compared to Democratic frontrunner Rep. Eric Swalwell’s 12.5%. Hicks emphasized that the party is united in its commitment to preventing a Republican victory, but acknowledged the harsh reality of running in California—a state with 23 million registered voters and some of the most expensive media markets in the nation. The stakes are high for Democrats, who have not seen a Republican win a statewide office since 2006. Party leaders are urging candidates like Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Ian Calderon to withdraw from the race to consolidate support behind stronger contenders. Hicks stressed that the party is “prepared to do what’s required” to ensure a viable candidate emerges from the primary. However, the situation highlights the challenges of maintaining political

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/21/2026