Anxiety grows among California Democrats as gubernatorial candidates rebuff calls to drop out

"Party leaders fear the growing possibility that the crowded field will split the Democratic electorate in the state's June top-two primary election and result in two Republicans advancing to the November ballot, ensuring a Republican governor being elected for the first time since 2006."

""It sounded like someone who has his head in the sand," former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said of Hicks' open letter. "[Most] of us filed within 24 hours of getting that letter. It created some press but not much else. It didn't impact [most] of the candidates and it certainly didn't impact my candidacy.""

""It's definitely not Tammany Hall," said Ashford, referring to the storied Democratic political machine that had a grip on New York City politics for nearly a century. "The party and Rusty are influential and they are helpful and that is their role.""

California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks urged underperforming gubernatorial candidates to drop out of the June primary election to prevent vote-splitting that could allow two Republicans to advance to the November general election. Despite his public plea, eight top Democratic candidates filed to appear on the ballot, largely ignoring his request. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dismissed Hicks' letter as ineffective, stating most candidates filed within 24 hours regardless. Democratic strategist Elizabeth Ashford acknowledged the appropriateness of public appeals but noted the limited power of modern party leadership compared to historical political machines like Tammany Hall.

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