Newsom Confident in Democratic Victory in Gubernatorial Race

Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to indicate a preferred candidate in California’s bustling gubernatorial contest, but he did express his belief on Tuesday that a Democrat will ultimately win.

“I am backing the Democratic Party in the upcoming runoff and I look forward to what the voters will decide soon,” Newsom stated during a news conference in Madera County. At this event, he also unveiled plans for three new state parks and an expansion of about 30,000 acres into the state park system.

When asked about the intensifying competition to succeed him, Newsom appeared unperturbed, asserting his “absolute confidence” in the Democratic Party’s potential success in the primary elections on June 2nd.

He was also questioned about his support for specific contenders, including progressive billionaire Tom Steyer and former Representative Katie Porter, but he chose not to comment on those individuals.

“There are many outstanding candidates with incredible records. I could mention seven of them,” he remarked, acknowledging the hard work of those willing to run. “I look forward to seeing how the voters decide,” he added.

Newsom’s remarks came during a period of upheaval in the race, particularly following the dramatic fall of Eric Swalwell, previously viewed as a leading Democratic candidate. He is facing serious accusations from multiple women regarding sexual misconduct, claims he has denied.

Political operatives who had previously supported Swalwell pulled their endorsements once allegations of harassment and sexual violence emerged.

In the meantime, both Steyer and Porter have been polling well recently, while Swalwell’s decline has aided Xavier Becerra’s rise—a former Los Angeles congressman, California Attorney General, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This sudden change in dynamics has caught many by surprise. Paul Mitchell, a vice president at Political Data, noted that Becerra’s rise seems to be organic and unexpected. “However, this doesn’t guarantee he’ll remain the front-runner; it’ll depend on how effectively his campaign develops,” he said.

On the other side of the political aisle, Steve Hilton—a former advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, now a Fox News commentator—positions himself as a populist figure. Meanwhile, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is also in the race.

Mail-in ballots are set to start shipping on May 4th.