Commentary: Too many Democrats in California governor's race? That's a great thing

"California Democratic leaders are now truly freaking out about too many of their own running for governor, potentially allowing two MAGA Republicans to advance to the general election. It's the latest mess created by a party that has held supermajorities in the state Legislature and the governor's mansion for most of the last 15 years, yet has done little to make life better for its constituents while blaming President Trump for everything."

"Three Latinos with distinguished resumes - former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond - are running for governor, yet they stand as much a chance of moving on to the general election as Alfred E. Neuman. Latinos are a plurality of California's population and the bedrock of the Democratic Party. Yet there's a good chance that after November, no Latino will hold a statewide elected position for the first time since 2014."

"What does it say about them that no Democratic candidate of color is considered a favorite to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, when whites are only a third of California's population? That a party casting itself as the champion of the working poor against Trump's oligarchic reign isn't telling a billionaire like Tom Steyer - who spent $341 million of his own money on a failed 2020 presidential run - to bow out and throw his support and moolah behind someone else, just because he's polling in the top five?"

California Democratic leaders face a critical problem: multiple Democratic candidates running for governor could split the vote, potentially allowing two Republican candidates to advance to the general election. This situation reflects broader failures by the Democratic Party, which has controlled the state legislature and governor's office for 15 years yet has struggled to improve constituents' lives. Despite Latinos comprising a plurality of California's population and forming the Democratic Party's base, no Latino candidate is positioned as a favorite to succeed Governor Newsom. Three qualified Latino candidates—former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond—face elimination, while billionaire Tom Steyer remains competitive despite previous failed campaigns. The party has done little to develop Latino political talent into statewide leaders.

Read at Los Angeles Times