The California Democratic leader is urging weak gubernatorial hopefuls to withdraw

Fearing that he will lose to the Republicans in California, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks, on Tuesday called on the representatives of his party who do not have an effective way to win, to resign.

“It is important that every candidate honestly examine the merits of his or her candidacy and campaign,” Hicks wrote in an open letter to politicians vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. I realize that my proposals are difficult for many to consider and may be considered too harsh for others.”

Hicks did not name the Democrats he wants out of the race.

But, even though the odds are low, California won’t risk a Republican being elected as the next governor while President Trump is in the White House, he said.

“[S]o much is at stake in our nation and many are counting on the leadership of California Democrats to stand up and speak out at this historic time,” Hicks wrote. “California’s leadership in the world is very difficult if a Democrat is elected as our next Governor.”

Hicks urged Democrats who are sinking in the field of candidates to come out before Friday’s deadline to officially file to run for governor — to ensure their names don’t appear on the June primary ballot.

Under California’s first primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the June primary advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

With nine Democrats running, the fear is that the contenders will split their votes and allow the top two Republicans in the race to finish in first and second place. This is despite Democratic registered voters outnumbering Republicans by 2 to 1, and no GOP candidate has won a national election since 2006.

Having two Republicans compete in the November election could seriously hurt Democratic voters and could hurt candidates in key down-ballot races.

“The outcome would jeopardize winning the necessary congressional seats and jeopardize the Democrats’ chances of retaking the House, cutting Donald Trump’s term in half, and protecting our nation from the pain many have endured since January 2025,” Hicks said in his letter. “We will not allow that to happen.”

A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California found that the five candidates leading the race – former Representative Katie Porter, Representative Eric Swalwell and hedge fund founder Tom Steyer between Democrats and Conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, both Republicans. Hilton and Bianco have led all other candidates in the polls over the past few months.

Discussions about the need for some Democrats to drop out of the race took place at last weekend’s California Democratic Party convention and when the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions began its endorsement process last week.

But the thorny issue in politics is that nearly every Democrat is left behind in the polls by people of color, as former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra noted at a candidate forum Monday evening.

“Besides, there are people calling for candidates to drop out of the race,” he said at a rally organized by Equality California and the Los Angeles LGBT Center at the Renberg Theater in Hollywood. “Isn’t it interesting that those who are asking them to leave the race are the colored candidates?

Hicks, asked about the effect on candidates of color, praised the sector’s success.

“We have a number of great candidates. They have amazing stories, and they show the diversity of our party. That being said, there are political realities about where we are at this time,” he said in an interview. “I am not calling any candidate to look in one direction or the other, I am just asking them to check their campaign and see if they have the strength.” [path] and if they don’t, don’t file.”

At Monday evening’s gubernatorial briefing, Porter said he was worried about the prospect of two Republicans making it to the top.

“I hear people say to me, it will never happen, but everyone said that about Trump,” he said at the forum. “And I look at how much damage we are facing, and I think about all the political risks that people face every day, the risks of immigrants leaving their homes and walking on our streets, the risks of a child trying to play sports in this state as well. And I don’t think we can take any more political risks.”

Times staff writer Phil Willon contributed to this report.