How California Politics Set the National Tone

Voters in California are preparing to choose a new governor to replace Gavin Newsom. The state’s “jungle primary”—the system adopted in 2011 in which all candidates run against one another and the two with the highest support move on to the general election—was thrown into some turmoil when former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out following multiple allegations of sexual assault.

A recent debate among several remaining contenders, including former California attorney general and Biden cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra, hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, and former Rep. Katie Porter failed to produce a clear frontrunner. As Democrats struggle to unite, Republican Steve Hilton, endorsed by President Donald Trump, is polling strongly . Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has consistently polled in third place. Election results in California often carry national implications. Given the state’s size and diversity, as well as its sizable number of votes in the Electoral College (54), it can serve as a powerful platform for shaping the direction of the party nationwide and even for emerging as a national leader. The nation has seen this before, in 1966, when the Republican primary produced Ronald Reagan, a victory that would go on to reshape the GOP and national politics for decades. The Republican Party was deeply divided in the 1960s. The Northeastern wing of the GOP, led by figures such as New York Gov. Jacob Javits, pulled the party toward the center, reflecting relatively liberal positions on issues like civil rights and government health care. By contrast, Republicans from the Midwest and Sun Belt pushed debates in a different direction, emphasizing opposition to government spending, high taxes, and economic regulation. As a result, moderation generally remained the preferred approach in selecting candidates for most offices.

Key points

• A recent debate among several remaining contenders, including former California attorney general and Biden cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra, hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, and former Rep.
• Katie Porter failed to produce a clear frontrunner.
• As Democrats struggle to unite, Republican Steve Hilton, endorsed by President Donald Trump, is polling strongly .
• Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has consistently polled in third place.
• Election results in California often carry national implications.