A messy governor's race in California raises Democratic fears of a potential loss
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Democrats have run California for years, but in a nationally critical election the party is being confronted by the limits of its own power: the race for governor is out of control.
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By — Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A messy governor's race in California raises Democratic fears of a potential loss Politics Apr 1, 2026 3:12 PM EDT LOS ANGELES — Democrats have run California for years, but in a nationally critical election the party is being confronted by the limits of its own power: the race for governor is out of control. Barely a month before the start of mail-in voting, Democratic leaders are openly dreading the possible loss of a statewide election for the first time in two decades. As candidates jockey in a crowded field, the contest has degenerated into finger-pointing over debate eligibility, identity politics and 2025 ballot counting, issues distant from voters struggling with the soaring cost of gas and groceries. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. "Squabbles about debates or other inside baseball politics are likely under the radar for most voters and seem almost absurd, given what's facing us," Kim Nalder, director of the Project for an Informed Electorate at California State University, Sacramento, said in an email. Candidates agree that a large number of voters remain undecided on the question of who should take charge of the nation's most populous state that, by itself, represents the world's fourth-largest economy. There are more than 50 candidates on the ballot — including eight established Democrats and two leading Republicans. Dominant Democrats contend with uncertainty For the first time in a generation the governor's contest is being defined by uncertainty, not inevitability — former Gov. Jerry Brown and outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom coasted through their elections. How do Democrats ...
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