California Democrats clash over congressional endorsement

State party chair and senator engage in heated exchange at state convention

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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At the California Democratic Party convention, state party chair Rusty Hicks and state Sen. Mike McGuire, the former Senate president, got into a heated exchange over the endorsement for the 1st Congressional District. 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 the move as an attempt by "party bosses" to "overturn votes behind closed doors." The dispute appeared to stem from personal animosity between Hicks and McGuire dating back to 2023 when Hicks unsuccessfully ran for an Assembly seat that McGuire had backed someone else for.

Why it matters

The clash highlights the ongoing tensions and infighting within the California Democratic Party, even as they try to present a united front. The endorsement battle could have implications for the upcoming congressional race in the heavily Democratic 1st District.

The details

At the state Democratic convention, delegates voted on Saturday to endorse state Sen. Mike McGuire in his bid for the 1st Congressional District over his primary opponent Audrey Denney. However, on Sunday morning, state party chair Rusty Hicks made a last-minute move to block McGuire's endorsement by approving a review sought by Denney. This led to a heated exchange between Hicks and McGuire, with McGuire accusing Hicks and other "party bosses" of trying to "overturn votes behind closed doors." The dispute appeared to stem from personal animosity between Hicks and McGuire dating back to 2023 when Hicks unsuccessfully ran for an Assembly seat that McGuire had backed someone else for.

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

The players

Rusty Hicks

The chair of the California Democratic Party.

Mike McGuire

A state senator and the former Senate president, who was endorsed by delegates to run for the 1st Congressional District.

Audrey Denney

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

Chris Rogers

The candidate for the vacant Assembly seat that Hicks unsuccessfully ran for in 2023, and whom McGuire as Senate leader had backed.

Janet Jonte

The chair of the Glenn County Democrats, who had consistently supported Denney but declared she couldn't support removing McGuire from the consent calendar after the 74% delegate vote.

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What they’re saying

“What the hell is going on here?”

— Mike McGuire, State 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, State Senator (CalMatters)

“There's a cost also to continuing to run maybe a bitter campaign the next few months.”

— Janet Jonte, Chair, Glenn County Democrats (CalMatters)

What’s next

The party's endorsement committee ultimately voted to deny Denney's challenge, paving the way for McGuire's endorsement.

The takeaway

The clash between the state party chair and a prominent state senator highlights the ongoing tensions and infighting within the California Democratic Party, even as they try to present a united front. The endorsement battle could have implications for the upcoming congressional race in the heavily Democratic 1st District.