California Governor Race: Crowded Democratic Field

0:00On March 10, California's race for governor is wide open, with eight prominent Democrats competing to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. None has emerged as a clear leader yet, leaving the field muddled ahead of the jungle primary, where the top two finishers advance to the general. Election no matter their party. The crowd grew because big names like former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and billionaire Rick, Caruso all sat it out. Without a dominant figure to clear the field, more candidates jumped in, each hoping to hit around 20% of the vote for a shot at the runoff. Democrats are getting nervous about the split field, as years of party control have weakened traditional power structures and endorsement machines, that one streamline races. Consultants say everyone now sees themselves as a contender, waiting for a breakout moment. Some worry the crowded primary could let two Republicans sneak into the November ballot. State Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged weaker candidates to bow out in an open

1:04letter, but only one did so far. Meanwhile, the contest has stayed low profile amid distractions like battles over congressional redistricting and national politics. Still, experts predict big spending will soon force it into a tighter two-way fight.