Another Democrat exits crowded campaign for California governor
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another Democrat emerges from the crowded contest for California governor.
Betty Yee — a former state comptroller — announced Monday that he was suspending his campaign, just a week after his fellow Democrat and former Democrat. U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell He left the race following allegations of sexual assault, which he denied.
Yee was running to become the first woman to hold the state’s highest office. But he has lagged in fundraising since joining the 2024 contest and has failed to rank as a leading candidate in the polls. In a fluid race that many voters ignored, she tried to present herself as a candidate who was “focused on solutions instead of soundbites” or a no-nonsense “boring Betty” candidate.
None of them worked. And with no funding for advertising (California has some of the most expensive media markets in the country) his campaign would have no way to connect with voters in the vast state.
“It was becoming clear that donors weren’t going to be there. Even some of my former supporters felt they had to move on,” Yee said in an online press conference announcing his decision.
Even if Yee is impeached, the race to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom remains crowded and unpredictable, with no clear leader. Yee’s withdrawal leaves six established Democrats and two leading Republicans on the ballot more than 50 names.
Mail ballots are scheduled to be sent to voters in early May, ahead of the June 2 primary election. Yee’s name cannot be removed at this stage of the campaign.
Swalwell’s exit reshuffled the race as he was among the leading Democrats. However, Yee was frozen at the bottom of the field due to insufficient voter support, so the impact of his departure will not be that significant.
Democrats scared The large number of candidates of the party may cause the party not to participate in the general elections to be held in November. This is because California has a primary election system in which only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
A survey by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California in late March and early April revealed a cluster of candidates in close competition: Democrats. Tom Steyer And former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, Republicans Steve Hilton And Chad Biancoand Swalwell. Other candidates were following them. The vote was taken before Swalwell withdrew.
