Could the Democrats be locked in the California governor’s race? | | US midterm elections 2026 News

But some critics say Harris and other top Democrats may have avoided the race to avoid getting involved in California’s political battles.

In addition to its ongoing struggle with homelessness and housing costs, the government is facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit. Republicans like Hilton and Bianco lay these problems squarely at the feet of the Democratic leadership.

“We want a change in policy, not the same,” Hilton said during the May gubernatorial debate.

But Democratic leaders say their party has managed to steer the government through a series of problems, without Republican support.

“It’s been the Democrats who have run the government for 10-plus years – dealing with issues like rising costs and health care and social security and education,” Hicks said.

“Indeed, the other party, the California Republicans, did nothing to offer a better alternative.”

The winners of Tuesday’s primary may be candidates who successfully sell their plans to solve California’s fiscal crisis.

Throughout the election season, Emerson College has identified the economy and housing as the top two issues for voters facing the state, rising on the heels of health care and immigration.

In a survey released in February, the Public Policy Institute of California also found that nearly a third of Californians cited inflation and the rising cost of living as their biggest concern for government.

Because the Democrats have been in power since 2011, their party has had a lot to blame, according to Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego.

However, Kousser doubts that Republican leaders represent the interests of most Californians, given the pervasiveness of Trump’s policies across the state.

“There’s a lot of dissatisfaction,” Kousser said. “But Donald Trump’s take on the Republican Party means it’s unlikely — except in two key areas — that Californians will turn to a Trump ally like Steve Hilton to fix it.”

While the Democratic Party hopefuls are looking to win the jungle primary, several are looking to adopt anti-Trump sentiment. Porter, for example, appeared on stage at this year’s Democratic convention with a sign that read, “F*** Trump.”

Experts suggest that meeting Trump has helped people like Governor Newsom raise their national profile. But Schnur warned that that approach will only take Democrats so far.

In his opinion, Tuesday’s wild primary will come down to the issue of consumer spending.

“It’s hard for any of the candidates to say they hate Donald Trump more than others,” Schnur said. “So we’re left with a political hole where all the elected officials act like they know how to solve the problem.”