SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The packed race for California governor has left many Democrats in the state wrestling with who to vote for in the race’s closing days, with some describing their choice as an obligation rather than an opportunity.
Though voting began in early May ahead of the June 2 primary, Democrats have been returning their ballots at a slower pace than normal after a chaotic campaign full of surprises, according to the Associated Press. Unlike recent races for governor, there has been no clear front-runner or political superstar — think Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger or Democrat Jerry Brown — to galvanize the electorate.
“I’m kind of pinching my nose and voting this go-around rather than being excited,” said Colin Culver, a 21-year-old San Diego resident who ultimately voted for Tom Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager turned climate activist.
Culver’s sentiment reflects a broader mood among Democratic voters who say they are struggling to find a candidate they feel enthusiastic about. The field includes roughly 60 candidates vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, among them six major Democrats and just two prominent Republicans.
The state’s top-two primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party, has added to Democratic voters’ perplexity. Under the system, only the two highest vote-getters advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. MSI previously reported that the crowded Democratic field has raised fears among party leaders that two Republicans could finish in the top two spots, a scenario that would be a political shock for a state that has been reliably Democratic statewide for years. California governor’s race raises Democratic fears of potential loss
The lack of a clear front-runner marks a departure from recent California gubernatorial elections, which have typically featured well-known figures with statewide name recognition. The current field lacks a candidate with the star power of Schwarzenegger or the institutional gravitas of Brown, leaving many voters without an obvious choice.
With mail-in ballots already being returned and the primary just days away, the race remains wide open. The outcome will determine which two candidates advance to the November general election for an office that controls California’s executive branch and has emerged as a frequent political foil for the Trump administration.