If you're not Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter or Tom Steyer, get out of the governor race
Sorry, people. But shit is getting a bit terrifying.
A month ago, when people asked whether I was worried about the election for California’s next governor coming down to two Republicans, I sorta shrugged it off.
Two weeks ago, when people asked whether I was worried about the election for California’s next governor coming down to two Republicans, I kinda just sighed.
I am now, officially concerned.
Really concerned.
As we speak, 24 Democrats remain in the race—and the (very real) fret is they will undercut one another, slice and dice the liberal vote into small fractions and clear the way for a pair of leading MAGA Republicans—Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton—to emerge from the June 2 general primary and wind up as the two men on the ballot.
If you don’t know, here’s a quick primer on how the system works …
And if you’re wondering, “Who’s to blame for this?”—well, the answer is simple: Ego.
Big …
Fat …
Obnoxious …
Ego.
It’s the one thing that’s struck me throughout the Truth OC process. From Joe Kerr and Mike Munzing to Gracey Van Der Mark and Chad Williams, it takes (with rare exception) a humongous level of ego to run for public office. It involves one believing, “I am The Person for this job—the only person for this job.” It requires cocksureness, arrogance, obscene levels of self-belief. It means not just asking for gobs of money, but asking for gobs of money—for you. Because you are the one.
If we’re being honest, politicians tend to make the worst dinner guests, because they are oxygen-sucking planets, intent on being the center of every occupied universe. And this isn’t just a Trump or MAGA or Republican thing. It applies to 98 percent of those who seek higher office. Hell, why did Joe Biden insist on competing again in 2024, until it was way too late to change course?
Answer: Ego.
And it’s exhausting.
In the case of California’s upcoming primary, the recent polling is both scary …
… and eye-opening.
There are, bluntly, just three Democrats who have a realistic shot: Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer. That’s it. Those three. I know San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan possessed some juice, but it’s over. I know Xavier Becerra has some unique experience, but it’s not resonating. I know former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is bored, but this ain’t it. Seriously, it is officially time for those polling below 10 percent to not just drop out, bt throw their support behind someone. And, as we get even closer, it’ll be time for two of the remaining three to also step aside and back the leader.
I know it’s not fun.
I know surrender sucks.
But if California winds up with a MAGA governor—especially when the national tides feel like they’re shifting against Trump’s insanity—the legacy of folks like Becerra and Mahan and Villaraigosa won’t be as accomplished, civic-minded leaders with deep resumes.
No, it’ll be as smaller-scale Bidens, allowing ego to poison everything and watching as a deep-blue state winds up in the hands of a zealot nut.
You are sooooo right! Ego is the enemy. Also voters are so picky & focus on one thing they don’t like about a candidate & say “I could never vote for them”because of something insignificant to the big picture! Local activists are exhausted. We have to get on the same page with the 3 viable candidates period‼️
Amen. The problem is to get these folks to drop out there is usually a party leader dangling incentives to do so. Is Newsom looking after CA or just himself? Swalwell is the least likable, Steyer is a billionaire which raises trust issues, and Katie Porter has disappeared after being media torpedoed. No matter, there needs to be a consolidation so we don’t let the wacko MAGAS take the reins.