California Democrats Struggle to Coalesce Around Governor Candidate

Party convention ends without endorsement as nine Democrats vie for nomination

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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At the California Democratic Party's state convention in San Francisco, the party failed to reach a consensus on which Democrat to back in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. With nine Democrats running and two leading Republicans, the prospect of a Democratic shutout in the general election was a major topic of discussion, though party chair Rusty Hicks downplayed the concern. The convention ended without an official endorsement, leaving continued questions about who will lead California Democrats going forward.

Why it matters

The lack of a clear Democratic frontrunner raises the possibility that two Republicans could advance to the general election in November, potentially shutting out Democrats from the governor's office. This would be a significant blow to the party's control of the state and could have major policy implications.

The details

The convention featured speeches from top Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, as well as four-minute pitches from the nine gubernatorial candidates. While Rep. Eric Swalwell led in both polling and delegate support, other candidates like former Controller Betty Yee and former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra performed better with delegates than in statewide polls. Billionaire Tom Steyer and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who entered the race late, have also emerged as contenders with significant fundraising. But the crowded field has prevented any one Democrat from breaking away.

  • The California Democratic Party's state convention was held on February 21-22, 2026 in San Francisco.
  • The June 2026 primary election is less than four months away.

The players

Rusty Hicks

The chair of the California Democratic Party, who expressed concern about the possibility of two Republicans advancing to the general election but downplayed it as a major issue this early on.

Rep. Eric Swalwell

A multi-term Bay Area congressman who led in both polling and delegate support at the convention.

Betty Yee

The former California State Controller, who performed better with delegates than in statewide polls due to her experience and fiscal policy platform.

Xavier Becerra

The former California Attorney General and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, who also performed better with delegates than in polls due to his experience in government.

Tom Steyer

The billionaire former hedge fund manager and presidential candidate, who is pouring millions of his own money into the campaign and has secured major labor and environmental endorsements.

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What they’re saying

“If there are two Republicans in the general election, they'll come looking for the chair of the party. That's usually how this works.”

— Rusty Hicks, Chair, California Democratic Party (sfgate.com)

“I think it's also important for me to reiterate that I'm aware of, but not worried about that dynamic.”

— Rusty Hicks, Chair, California Democratic Party (sfgate.com)

“The question is, you can have all the money in the world, but if you don't have a story to tell, it doesn't matter.”

— Rusty Hicks, Chair, California Democratic Party (sfgate.com)

“I used to really like Betty Yee, and I thought she's great, and she'd do a good job. But after looking at polling, I'm considering a switch, in part for the greater good come November: 'She's down at 2%, so that changed my whole way of thinking because of the risk of splitting the vote. If she doesn't get the endorsement, I hope she's willing to drop out.'”

— Larry Leonard, Sonoma County Democratic Party delegate (sfgate.com)

“I'm excited about the race. It matters so much. I don't think ever in California's history has it mattered so much.”

— Suzanne Danis, Delegate for Canyon Democrats PAC (sfgate.com)

What’s next

The June 2026 primary election will determine which two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the November general election.

The takeaway

The crowded Democratic field and the prospect of two Republicans advancing to the general election have created significant uncertainty and division within the California Democratic Party. Party leaders will need to find a way to coalesce support behind a single candidate in order to avoid being shut out of the governor's race in November.