California Democrats Struggle to Coalesce Behind a Gubernatorial Candidate

Party leadership, including Newsom and Pelosi, have declined to intervene in the crowded primary race.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:10pm by

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A serene, cinematic painting of a California state capitol building, its grand architecture and columns cast in warm, dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political uncertainty and transition.The absence of a clear Democratic successor to Governor Newsom has created uncertainty and anxiety within the party as it navigates a crowded primary field.San Francisco Today

With seven major Democratic candidates vying for the California governor's race and no clear frontrunner, the party is facing a decision paralysis. Despite calls for party leadership to step in and cull the field, figures like Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have declined to get involved, leaving the Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks to navigate the open primary.

Why it matters

The lack of a clear Democratic successor to Newsom has raised concerns that the party could end up with two Republican candidates advancing to the general election under California's top-two primary system. This would lock Democrats out of the governor's mansion, a concerning prospect for the party in the nation's most populous state.

The details

The Democratic field remains unwieldy, with seven major candidates splitting the vote less than three weeks before ballots are sent. Party leadership, including Newsom and Pelosi, have declined to elevate a successor or pressure candidates to drop out. Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has relied on internal polling and vague pleas for candidates to 'honestly assess' their viability, but has faced criticism for not using his position to cull the field more aggressively.

  • Ballots for the California gubernatorial primary will be sent out in early May 2026.
  • The California Democratic Party held its endorsing convention in February 2026, where no candidate received the 60% threshold needed for the party's official backing.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The current Democratic governor of California, who is not interested in elevating a successor.

Nancy Pelosi

The former Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who has declined to intervene in the crowded primary race.

Rusty Hicks

The chair of the California Democratic Party, who has faced criticism for not using his position to cull the field of candidates more aggressively.

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What they’re saying

“People have reached out to me saying, 'Your mom has to do something!' I said, 'You know what? She doesn't, though.' She already did that with Biden and Harris. She's not going to — don't look to her to do that again.”

— Christine Pelosi, Daughter of Nancy Pelosi

“This has been incredibly frustrating, not to mention scary, with the idea that we could end up with two Republicans. I really do believe that there has been a failure of leadership at the top.”

— RL Miller, Chair of the California Democratic Party's environmental caucus

What’s next

The California Democratic Party plans to conduct and release ongoing polls on the gubernatorial race every 7-10 days through early May, when ballots are sent.

The takeaway

The lack of a clear Democratic successor to Newsom and the party's inability to coalesce behind a single candidate has raised concerns that the 2026 California governor's race could result in two Republicans advancing to the general election, locking Democrats out of the state's top office.