California Democrats shrug at their choices in packed race to replace
Newsom
[May 28, 2026]
By SOPHIE AUSTIN
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The packed race for California governor has
left many Democrats in the state wrestling with who to vote for in the
race's closing days.
Though voting began in early May ahead of the June 2 primary, Democrats
have been returning their ballots at a slower pace than normal after a
chaotic campaign full of surprises. Unlike recent races for governor,
there's been no clear frontrunner or political superstar (think
Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger or Democrat Jerry Brown).
“I’m kind of pinching my nose and voting this go-around rather than
being excited,” said Colin Culver, a 21-year-old San Diego resident who
ultimately voted for Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund manager turned
climate activist.
Democrats have been particularly perplexed given the state's top-two
primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot
regardless of party. There are roughly 60 candidates vying to succeed
termed-out Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. They include six major
Democrats and just two prominent Republicans.
With the large number of Democrats running, party leaders feared months
ago that the two leading Republicans, Riverside County Sheriff Chad
Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton, could advance, locking
out Democrats. That scenario has grown less likely after former Rep.
Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race after being accused of sexual
assault, but the scandal further rattled anxious Democrats. President
Donald Trump endorsed Hilton in April, which may have coalesced GOP
support behind him and decreased the odds of a Republican upset in a
state that hasn’t had a Republican governor since 2011.
But the fear among voters remains. Some Democrats are waiting to cast
their ballots to see if one candidate breaks away from the pack in the
final days, relying on polling to help make their decision. Others have
struggled to make up their minds, reluctantly choosing a candidate after
being unimpressed with the field.
Voters are returning their ballots later than normal
Even Democrats who typically have a high turnout in primary elections —
often older, white voters — have been slow to drop off their ballots,
said Paul Mitchell, a Democratic strategist tracking ballot returns.
“My joke is: Call your Democratic parents and tell them to turn in their
ballot,” he said. “They are holding onto the ballot because they have
seen this kind of topsy-turvy governor’s race. They’re waiting to make
sure they’re making the right choice.”
About 10% of the state's roughly 23 million voters had voted as of
Wednesday, according to Mitchell's tracker. That includes about 15% of
Republicans, 10% of Democrats and 7% of voters registered with no or
another party. That breakdown is unusual because Democrats in recent
years have tended to vote early while many Republicans wait until
Election Day.
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Democrats toggle between candidates
Former state attorney general and federal Health secretary Xavier
Becerra and Steyer are among the top Democrats voters are weighing.
A poll conducted in mid-May by the Public Policy Institute of
California found that Becerra and Hilton each have the support of
about 2 in 10 likely California primary voters. Steyer, Bianco and
former Congresswoman Katie Porter each drew the support of between
10% and 15% of likely voters in the survey. No other candidates were
polling in double digits.
Support for Becerra has increased from only 5% in a PPIC poll
conducted in late March and early April, when Swalwell was still in
the race.
Some voters aren't relying on the polls to make their choice. That
includes San Francisco native Mary O’Neal, who voted for former Los
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa because she liked his record
leading the city from 2005 to 2013. Although he's been on the debate
stages, he's failed to generate significant support.
Fresno native Alexa Duran, 22, a recent graduate of the University
of California, Berkeley, said she’s leaning toward Becerra, despite
her concerns about his refusal as attorney general to investigate
the killing of a Latino man by an officer in the San Francisco Bay
Area in 2020.
“I know he has tons of political experience, but I’m just not sure
if he’s the right candidate,” Duran said.
Amber Larson, 41, a judicial analyst for the state living in Chico,
likes Ramsey Robinson, a socialist candidate. But casting her ballot
for him would be a “waste” due to his slim odds, she said.
She doesn't want to support a longtime politician — Becerra — and
she's skeptical of billionaires — Steyer.
“Are we at a point where only a billionaire can beat an
establishment, career politician?” Larson said, referencing Steyer
spending millions to largely self-fund his campaign.
She planned to go with Steyer anyway because she likes his energy
affordability plans and since he's one of the leading candidates.
“I don’t want to throw my vote away,” she said.
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Associated Press journalists Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Terry
Chea in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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