Democratic Leaders Clash Over Congressional Endorsement

State party Chair Rusty Hicks and Sen. Mike McGuire engaged in a heated exchange over the endorsement process.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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At the California Democratic Party convention, state party Chair Rusty Hicks and Sen. Mike McGuire, the former Senate president, got into a heated exchange over the endorsement process for the 1st Congressional District race. Delegates had voted to endorse McGuire, but Hicks made a last-minute move to block the endorsement by approving a review sought by McGuire's opponent, Audrey Denney. McGuire criticized Hicks, accusing him of putting his "thumb on the scale" to guarantee the review committee considered Denney's challenge.

Why it matters

The clash between the two Democratic leaders highlights the internal divisions and power struggles within the party, which could impact the upcoming congressional race and the party's ability to present a united front. The endorsement process is meant to unify the party, but this incident raises questions about transparency, fairness, and the influence of party leadership.

The details

Delegates from the region had voted on Saturday by a 74% margin to endorse McGuire, but at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Hicks made an eleventh-hour move to block McGuire's endorsement by approving a review sought by Denney. McGuire accused Hicks of essentially guaranteeing that the review committee would consider Denney's challenge, regardless of whether her team had submitted the necessary signed petitions. Denney's campaign manager said they had submitted the required 20 signatures on Saturday evening and received notice that night that it was approved, but they did not know Hicks would also get involved.

  • On Saturday, delegates voted by a 74% margin to endorse McGuire.
  • On Sunday at 8 a.m., Hicks made the move to block McGuire's endorsement by approving a review sought by Denney.

The players

Rusty Hicks

The state party Chair who made the last-minute move to block McGuire's endorsement.

Mike McGuire

The former Senate president who was the favorite to win the heavily redrawn 1st Congressional District after voters adopted maps favoring Democrats.

Audrey Denney

McGuire's Democratic primary opponent in the 1st Congressional District race.

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What they’re saying

“What the hell is going on here?”

— Mike McGuire, Senator (CalMatters)

“This hearing is an embarrassment. We're supposed to be Democrats — people who believe in the sanctity of elections, voter integrity, and that every vote counts. Instead, this morning, because of two people trying to put their finger on the scale, the headline coming out of this hearing is all about party bosses trying to overturn votes behind closed doors in the dead of night.”

— Mike McGuire, Senator (CalMatters)

What’s next

The review committee ultimately denied Denney's challenge, paving the way for McGuire's endorsement.

The takeaway

The clash between Hicks and McGuire highlights the internal divisions and power struggles within the California Democratic Party, which could impact the upcoming congressional race and the party's ability to present a united front to voters.