June 2 California Governor Race Set After Gavin Newsom Term Limits, Polls Show Wide-Open Contest

California’s open all-party primary for governor is set for June 2, with term limits preventing Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, from running for re-election.

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The New York Times’ polling project describes the race as “a wide-open contest,” noting that Republicans typically struggle to win statewide races in California while a large group of Democrats split the state’s liberal voters.

Los Angeles Times

One Republican, Steve Hilton, won the endorsement of President Trump, boosting his support and reducing the chance of two Republicans appearing on the ballot in November.

Among leading Democratic candidates, The New York Times lists Xavier Becerra, a former secretary of health and human services, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire philanthropist.

The Times also notes that Representative Eric Swalwell was one of the leading Democrats before he suspended his campaign following allegations of sexual assault.

The Los Angeles Times reports that political consultant Steve Maviglio filed an application Friday with state officials to alter California’s voting system by reverting to a traditional primary.

Under Maviglio’s proposal, the top candidates from each party would advance to the general election in November, while the current system lets the top two candidates, regardless of party, move on to the runoff.

The New York Times

Maviglio said, “It was extremely scary to envision the November ballot for governor with Republicans on it,” and he described the ballot measure as a simple repeal of Proposition 14.

The Los Angeles Times adds that Maviglio’s ballot initiative proposes to appear on the 2028 ballot and take effect in 2030.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber told reporters that she had voted years ago against Proposition 14 and said, “I did not like the open primary.”

The Los Angeles Times says the state’s top-two primary system has been in place since California voters passed Proposition 14 in 2010, with the state’s major political parties opposed to the initiative and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting it.

“The open all-party primary will be held on June 2”

The New York Times

It reports that Proposition 14 and the state’s once-a-decade redistricting process have led to dramatic races, including the 2012 face-off between Democratic Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman for a congressional seat in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.

The Los Angeles Times also frames the current governor’s race as a wide-open contest to succeed Gavin Newsom, with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton polling high in various surveys.

The New York Times’ polling coverage, meanwhile, emphasizes that Republicans typically struggle to win statewide races in California even as early primary polls show two Republicans near the top.

Together, the two accounts place the California governor contest and the future of the state’s primary system at the center of political strategy ahead of the June 2 all-party primary.