California Democrats Meet as Party Faces Fractured Primary

Newsom's exit leaves a crowded field of contenders vying for the party's gubernatorial nomination.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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California Democrats are gathering for their state convention this weekend, facing a defining question: Can the party unite in a post-Gov. Gavin Newsom world, or are they headed toward an ugly, splintered primary that could jeopardize their grip on the governor's race? With nearly a dozen contenders in the race and no clear consensus candidate, the open political landscape has left hopefuls jockeying for position and trying to build coalitions ahead of the June primary.

Why it matters

The wide-open governor's contest is emerging as the marquee battle at the convention, as party insiders and activists try to exert their influence and shape the direction of the party. The large group of Democrats in the contest has split the state's liberal voters, raising the possibility that two Republicans could finish in the top two in the June primary and advance to the general election in the most Democratic state in the country.

The details

The crowded field of Democratic contenders includes Rep. Eric Swalwell; former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra; former Rep. Katie Porter; billionaire Tom Steyer; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former state controller Betty Yee; California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former state lawmaker Ian Calderon; and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Several of the candidates, including Mahan, Steyer, Swalwell, Thurmond, and Yee, are expected to set up booths at the convention to make their case directly to delegates and key donors.

  • The California Democratic convention will take place this Friday through Sunday in San Francisco.
  • The June 2 primary election will determine the top two candidates who will advance to the November 3 general election.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The term-limited California governor who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run.

Kamala Harris

The former Vice President who is also expected to skip the in-person convention.

Steve Hilton

A former Fox News host who is one of the two Republican candidates near the top of early primary polls.

Chad Bianco

The Riverside County Sheriff who is the other Republican candidate near the top of early primary polls.

Nancy Pelosi

The former Speaker of the House who will be a featured speaker at the convention and will be honored at a special sold-out dinner.

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What they’re saying

“In almost any other race, you'd look at a field like this and celebrate it. The challenge is that California's nonpartisan primary system turns a vibrant field into a liability. All candidates run on the same ballot and only the top two advance to November, regardless of party. Right now, you have nine serious Democrats splitting roughly 60% of the vote while two Republicans are consolidating the other 40%. The most likely outcome is still a Democrat advancing, but unless the dynamics change, there's a small chance two Republicans finish in the top two in the most Democratic state in the country.”

— Andrew Koneschusky, Founder of Beltway Advisors (Washington Examiner)

“Both the part activist wing and leadership class have significant might in shaping candidate fortunes, but not enough muster to clear the field completely. No one candidate had had a breakthrough moment to justify a coronation to the governor's office as the party still reels from the 2024 loss from one of their own.”

— Jeff Le, Former Deputy Cabinet Secretary to Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown (Washington Examiner)

What’s next

The California Democratic convention will be closely watched for signs of which direction the party is headed, even if it does not result in a formal endorsement. The vote tallies, energy in the room, and private conversations will all provide clues about the state of the governor's race.

The takeaway

The wide-open California governor's race has left the state's Democratic party fractured, with no clear consensus candidate emerging. This sets up a test of influence for party insiders and activists, as they try to shape the direction of the party and the eventual nominee in a high-stakes primary contest.