In California, voters have the option to register with “no party preference.” Interestingly, it seems the Democratic Party is approaching the 2026 gubernatorial election with a similar attitude, showing “no candidate preference.”
Outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom hasn’t designated a successor, and as a result, the search for a frontrunner among Democrats has not led to any clear favorites.
Names like Xavier Becerra have emerged, possibly pushed into the spotlight by media and political consultants, while Tom Steyer, who invested an astonishing $200 million, might simply be perceived as trying too hard to grab attention.
Unfortunately, the candidates maintain a series of flaws that deter enthusiasm.
Katie Porter expressed her frustration, saying she’s “so angry.” Eric Swalwell deemed the situation “too creepy,” while Matt Mahan commented that it’s “too late” for effective changes.
Charisma seems to be lacking, and fresh ideas are scarce. Additionally, policies proposed by these candidates appear to clash with voter preferences, even in a predominantly Democratic state like California.
For starters, these candidates support allowing biological males in girls’ high school sports and continuing to finance unsuccessful high-speed rail initiatives.
This might explain why many Democrats feel disenchanted with participating in California’s primary. Early indications suggest that, contrary to expectations, Republicans, typically viewed as on the decline, are mobilizing rapidly, while mail-in ballots for Democrats are notably slow to return.
What’s causing this disconnect?
There are a couple of factors at play.
The first revolves around Newsom himself. After succeeding Jerry Brown as California’s top education official in 2018, he faced a significant challenge from former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was also seeking re-election.
Villaraigosa’s campaign wasn’t focused on specific policies but rather attempted to elevate the Southern California faction within the Democratic Party.
Residents in Los Angeles were evidently fed up with being treated as mere electoral assets by the political elite in San Francisco. Moreover, Latino voters felt neglected and undervalued.
Despite the strong challenge, Villaraigosa didn’t stand a chance. Newsom won against self-funding Republican John Cox, but he started his tenure as a rather ineffective incumbent.
Behind the scenes, it was any secret that despite his superficial charm, many found it hard to work with him.
His effectiveness seemed minimal. He called off the high-speed rail project but still provided service in the Central Valley. He scrapped one of Brown’s water tunnels but never built an alternative.
His stringent COVID-19 restrictions, which included shutting down schools and restaurants, contrasted sharply with his visit to the French Laundry with lobbyist friends.
Ultimately, as a result of multiple challenges, Newsom faced a recall but escaped it by doing what he seems to do best: sparring with Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
This brings us to the second significant influence on this election: Trump, or perhaps more accurately, responses to him.
The race to succeed Newsom has transformed into an internal Democratic contest focused on who can express the most disdain for Trump.
While they believe their factions appreciate it—perhaps they do—the intensity of resentment towards Trump has blurred any political distinctions.
This hostility has hindered real discussions regarding viable solutions to California’s many existing issues.
Remarkably, genuine solutions seem to be coming from the Republican Party, especially Steve Hilton’s appealing proposal to exempt state taxes on incomes below $100,000, which Katie Porter has echoed.
This election is poised to be impactful, particularly for the Republican Party, which seeks policy reform in California.
Conversely, the Democratic Party is also in a state of wanting change, but their focus seems to center around opposing Trump, who, notably, isn’t even a candidate in this election.
Oddly enough, none of the Democrats have articulated a vision for California beyond maintaining the current state of affairs.
Little wonder that many voters feel unmoved.
