California Democratic Party Chair Hicks Urges Democrats To Drop Out To Prevent Two Republicans Advancing

California Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks publicly urged long-shot Democratic hopefuls to withdraw from the crowded gubernatorial contest, arguing that continued infighting could split the vote and “potentially allow[] two Republicans to advance under the state's 'jungle primary' system.”

“Struggling Democrats need to drop out of California’s crowded governor race or risk a GOP win, party leader warns - Click here to listen to this article - - California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged struggling gubernatorial candidates to withdraw before Friday’s filing deadline to prevent vote-splitting in the June primary”

Los Angeles Times

The appeal was framed as a strategic move to prevent Republicans from securing both top-two primary slots and locking Democrats out of the November race.

Los Angeles Times

At the same time, a party official urged candidates to be realistic about their prospects and to assess viability before filing, rather than endorsing withdrawal by name.

Hicks warned that continued infighting and ego-driven campaigns could have concrete, damaging consequences: they could "hand Republicans a path to the governor’s mansion, weaken Democratic resistance to the Trump administration, and depress turnout in November — jeopardizing key congressional races and the party's effort to retake the House."

Observers cited specific Republican alternatives who, Hicks and others argued, could plausibly capture top-two slots, heightening the risk to Democratic prospects.

New York Post

A Public Policy Institute of California survey cited by party officials showed the race 'tightly bunched'.

“Fears that a fractured Democratic field could produce a shocking result in California’s gubernatorial election have prompted the state’s party chair to implore candidates who can’t realistically win to drop out”

Washington Examiner

The survey put Democrats Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Tom Steyer and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco 'within about four points and inside the survey's margin of error'.

Party leaders said that result could produce an unexpected top-two outcome, and Hicks and supporters pressed candidates to 'honestly assess' their odds before the March 6 filing deadline in light of that closeness.

Reactions to Hicks’s public plea were mixed.

The Republican National Committee dismissed the request as "a sign of weakness," while some Democrats urged withdrawal to avoid ceding slots to conservatives.

Los Angeles Times

Christine Pelosi publicly echoed the call on X, warning that multiple Democrats risked ceding top-two positions to Republicans.

Party officials, however, emphasized that the ask was not a directive targeting named individuals but a general request for candidates to weigh their viability.