Trump Hands California Democrats a Gift, Endorsing GOP Candidate in Wide-Open Jungle Primary

For months, California Democrats have worried that they may be locked out of this November’s gubernatorial election, giving the GOP control of the nation’s wealthiest, most populous state due to their top-two primary system. Now, President Trump is handing those Democrats a gift by helping consolidate support around one Republican candidate. California elects candidates in what is known as a “jungle primary” system, which means that all candidates run in a single primary regardless of party, with the top two vote-getters moving on to the general election. This year, the race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom includes 10 primary candidates — eight Democrats and two Republicans. Based on polling, the two Republicans — commentator Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco — are on track to take the top two slots due to the fractured nature of the Democratic vote. Mr. Trump’s endorsement of Mr. Hilton, however, will likely push Mr. Bianco down in the polls, handing Democrats the second spot in the general election. “People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World,” Mr. Trump wrote of California on Truth Social. “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.”The most recent polling aggregators find that Mr. Hilton is leading the primary field with between 15 and 16 percent of the vote, followed by Mr. Bianco who takes between 14 and 15 percent. The top three Democrats in the race — Congressman Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer, and a former lawmaker, Congresswoman Katie Porter — stand between 10 and 14 percent each. The other five Democratic candidates are polling in the single digits. Mr. Newsom and other leading Democrats have been sounding the alarm for months about their party’s conundrum. In an open letter to gubernatorial candidates last month, the California Democrat Party chairman, Rusty Hicks, told his fellow Democrats to seriously assess their viability in the race. He says that if a candidate does not see a path to one of the top two spots in the June primary, they should drop out for the sake of the party. “Despite the ongoing chatter, the likelihood of two Republicans effectively ‘locking out’ California Democrats from the contest for Governor in the General Election is relatively low. However, while it is implausible, it is not impossible,” Mr. Hicks wrote in a public letter in early March.“Therefore, with the filing deadline approaching this Friday, March 6th, and the Primary Election quickly following, it is imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” he said in his letter. Mr. Hicks says candidates should make their decision “on or before April 15th.”Additional strife infected the Democratic side of the aisle in late March after a gubernatorial debate was canceled at the last minute due to protests from low-polling candidates. That debate, which was meant to feature only the top six candidates based on a formula that assessed both poll numbers and fundraising totals, was set to feature only white candidates — the two Republicans and four Democrats. The debate hosts tried to come to an agreement about how to change debate criteria at the last minute in order to avoid the situation, but no agreement was reached and the debate was scrapped. Mr. Newsom himself has sided with Mr. Hicks in arguing that some Democratic candidates need to drop out of the race before the June primary. “Rusty Hicks … sent me his statement and I read it a few hours [before it was released], and I confess I agree,” Mr. Newsom said at a book tour event the day after Mr. Hicks released his letter publicly. The governor’s remark drew applause from the crowd.“At this moment in history, with all the peril and promise that marks this moment, for California … to have a Republican Trumper” as governor would not be acceptable, Mr. Newsom argued. “There is no margin for error. This is a moment for real self-reflection.”

Trump Hands California Democrats a Gift, Endorsing GOP Candidate in Wide-Open Jungle Primary

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