California voters can register to vote as “No Party Preferences.” But in the 2026 race for governor, Democrats appear to have registered “No Candidate Preferences.”
Outgoing governor Gavin Newsom did not plant a successor. And for months, there was no favorite among the many Democrats who wanted to replace him.
Even now, it is not clear who is the frontrunner for the Democrats. It would be Xavier Becerra, who the advisors and the media plucked from the bottom of the pile. It would be Tom Steyer, who spent – or perhaps wasted – $200 million to get attention.
Most of the candidates were notable only for their faults.
Katie Porter: You’re so angry.
Eric Swalwell: It’s very surprising.
Matt Mahan: Too late.
No one showed interest, or presented new ideas.
Worse, they all support policies voters hate — even in blue-state California.
For one thing, Democratic candidates want to continue allowing gay men to compete in girls’ high school sports. And they want to continue funding the failed high-speed rail project.
No wonder Democrats are under-voting in the California primaries. Early data showed they were slow to return their mail-in ballots — while Republicans, who should be holding back, were voting at a faster clip.
What’s going on?
Two things.
One is related to Newsom.
In 2018, with Jerry Brown – the California center – retiring, Newsom became the heir apparent. But he faced a strong challenge from former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (who is running again).
Villaraigosa’s campaign was not about policies. It was an effort by the Southern California Democratic Party wing to assert itself.
Angelenos were tired of being used as ballot fodder by the San Francisco political party. And Latino voters were sick of being taken for granted.
Villaraigosa helps celebrate. Newsom went on to win over Republican self-funding businessman John Cox. But he was a weak man from the beginning of his term.
The best-kept secret in Sacramento was that despite his superficial charm, no one really wanted to work with him.
Newsom seemed helpless. He operated in half steps.
He canceled high-speed rail – sort of, then kept it going in the Central Valley. He canceled one of Jerry Brown’s cross-Delta waterways – and never built any of them.
One thing he insisted on was the restrictions of COVID – no school, no worship, no restaurants.
He then dined with his visiting friends at the French Laundry.
With that, Newsom drew a recall challenge. And he deserved it.
But he survived by doing one thing he does very well: making Donald Trump, and the Republicans, the enemy.
That’s the second major force shaping this election: Trump, or should I say, “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
The race to replace Newsom has been a contest among Democrats to see who hates Trump the most.
They think their team’s base likes that – and maybe it does – but the angry Olympians have erased any differences between them.
The anti-Trump noise has also stifled any discussion of real solutions to California’s many problems.
All the good ideas came from Republicans – especially Steve Hilton. His proposal to eliminate the state tax on incomes below $100,000 a year was so compelling that Katie Porter simply copied it.
This should be an election for change. And for Republicans, of course. They want to change California’s policies.
For Democrats, it’s also an election for change. They want to change Trump.
But he is not in the election.
None of the Democrats offered a vision of California outside the status quo.
No wonder their voters are bored.
Joel Pollak is the Opinion editor for the California Post.
