Opinion | Who Should Be the Next Governor of California?

"California is the site of a series of interlocking problems: It's just too expensive for many people. There aren't enough homes, or at least enough affordable ones. The insurance market is a challenge. Homelessness is difficult. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is splitting up families. Federal cuts to universities and health care are rampant. Gasoline and electricity are expensive. Water rights are complicated. Fires and floods and the effects of climate change are already savage."

"The state is also home to the biggest economic story of our age, artificial intelligence, and remains one of the most beautiful places in the country, where millions want to live. Whom should voters choose to deal with all of this? The California governor's race has been chaotic and confusing. Democratic candidates are offering up their party's full range of choices, from technocratic moderates to progressive populists."

"The field being so wide and so big makes it hard. There's a lot of noise in the campaign makes it hard for voters to focus on issues. So we're really not making decisions on policies. We haven't had a campaign like this in really a long time in California. This one is still so fluid. The issues seem to matter a lot less. But the issues are so huge."

California faces interlocking challenges including high costs, insufficient affordable housing, an unstable insurance market, and persistent homelessness. Immigration enforcement actions are splitting families, while federal cuts to universities and health care are widespread. Energy and gasoline costs remain high, and water rights are complex. Climate change impacts are already severe, with fires and floods compounding existing stresses. At the same time, California is home to major economic developments tied to artificial intelligence and remains highly desirable for millions. Voters must choose a governor to address these pressures amid a chaotic, confusing Democratic race with a wide range of candidate approaches, creating noise that makes it difficult to focus on policy decisions.

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