Pelosi and Newsom may need to put an end to California’s ‘circular firing squad’ to avoid a midterm shock
Confidence requires clarity.
All eyes are on California’s political heavyweights to intervene and put an end to the “circular firing squad” that is the gubernatorial primary.
Earlier this week, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged long-shot candidates to exit the crowded governor’s race, a sentiment that term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) agrees with. Unfortunately for Hicks, most ignored him.
Eight Democratic candidates have filed the paperwork to qualify for the June primary, pressing ahead despite Hicks’s plea to thin the field. The California Secretary of State’s office will certify the final ballot on March 21.
From left, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee stand on the stage during the California gubernatorial candidate debate Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Laure Andrillon)
Party leaders fear the sprawling Democratic field could fracture support in the top-two primary, potentially allowing two Republicans — former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco — to advance to November. That would guarantee California elects its first GOP governor since 2006.
“California Democrats are suddenly discovering the downside of their own jungle primary system,” Republican strategist Erin Maguire told the Washington Examiner. “When you have eight Democrats in the race and only two Republicans, the math starts to look dangerous very quickly. … They know a fractured Democratic vote could hand Republicans the top two spots in November, and for a party that treats California as a political fortress, that’s an unacceptable risk.”
GOP strategist Jeff Burton called the situation “not a hair on fire moment yet,” but warned it is evolving.
“Whenever party chairs and leaders get involved publicly, to the extent Mr. Hicks did with his letter, it ALWAYS backfires,” Burton, co-founder at Maven Advocacy, said. “His letter will actually limit the ability of other leaders like Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Schiff to engage because political moves like this are almost always best done out of the public eye, and now, everyone is watching.”
Hicks hardened his tone Thursday, saying the responsibility rests with the candidates who remain in the race.
California’s Democratic heavyweights — Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi — control donors, endorsements, and party infrastructure. The question is whether they will use that …
Confidence requires clarity.
All eyes are on California’s political heavyweights to intervene and put an end to the “circular firing squad” that is the gubernatorial primary.
Earlier this week, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged long-shot candidates to exit the crowded governor’s race, a sentiment that term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) agrees with. Unfortunately for Hicks, most ignored him.
Eight Democratic candidates have filed the paperwork to qualify for the June primary, pressing ahead despite Hicks’s plea to thin the field. The California Secretary of State’s office will certify the final ballot on March 21.
From left, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee stand on the stage during the California gubernatorial candidate debate Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Laure Andrillon)
Party leaders fear the sprawling Democratic field could fracture support in the top-two primary, potentially allowing two Republicans — former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco — to advance to November. That would guarantee California elects its first GOP governor since 2006.
“California Democrats are suddenly discovering the downside of their own jungle primary system,” Republican strategist Erin Maguire told the Washington Examiner. “When you have eight Democrats in the race and only two Republicans, the math starts to look dangerous very quickly. … They know a fractured Democratic vote could hand Republicans the top two spots in November, and for a party that treats California as a political fortress, that’s an unacceptable risk.”
GOP strategist Jeff Burton called the situation “not a hair on fire moment yet,” but warned it is evolving.
“Whenever party chairs and leaders get involved publicly, to the extent Mr. Hicks did with his letter, it ALWAYS backfires,” Burton, co-founder at Maven Advocacy, said. “His letter will actually limit the ability of other leaders like Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Schiff to engage because political moves like this are almost always best done out of the public eye, and now, everyone is watching.”
Hicks hardened his tone Thursday, saying the responsibility rests with the candidates who remain in the race.
California’s Democratic heavyweights — Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi — control donors, endorsements, and party infrastructure. The question is whether they will use that …
Pelosi and Newsom may need to put an end to California’s ‘circular firing squad’ to avoid a midterm shock
Confidence requires clarity.
All eyes are on California’s political heavyweights to intervene and put an end to the “circular firing squad” that is the gubernatorial primary.
Earlier this week, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged long-shot candidates to exit the crowded governor’s race, a sentiment that term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) agrees with. Unfortunately for Hicks, most ignored him.
Eight Democratic candidates have filed the paperwork to qualify for the June primary, pressing ahead despite Hicks’s plea to thin the field. The California Secretary of State’s office will certify the final ballot on March 21.
From left, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee stand on the stage during the California gubernatorial candidate debate Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Laure Andrillon)
Party leaders fear the sprawling Democratic field could fracture support in the top-two primary, potentially allowing two Republicans — former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco — to advance to November. That would guarantee California elects its first GOP governor since 2006.
“California Democrats are suddenly discovering the downside of their own jungle primary system,” Republican strategist Erin Maguire told the Washington Examiner. “When you have eight Democrats in the race and only two Republicans, the math starts to look dangerous very quickly. … They know a fractured Democratic vote could hand Republicans the top two spots in November, and for a party that treats California as a political fortress, that’s an unacceptable risk.”
GOP strategist Jeff Burton called the situation “not a hair on fire moment yet,” but warned it is evolving.
“Whenever party chairs and leaders get involved publicly, to the extent Mr. Hicks did with his letter, it ALWAYS backfires,” Burton, co-founder at Maven Advocacy, said. “His letter will actually limit the ability of other leaders like Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Schiff to engage because political moves like this are almost always best done out of the public eye, and now, everyone is watching.”
Hicks hardened his tone Thursday, saying the responsibility rests with the candidates who remain in the race.
California’s Democratic heavyweights — Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi — control donors, endorsements, and party infrastructure. The question is whether they will use that …
0 Comments
0 Shares
30 Views
0 Reviews
