Former California controller Betty Yee drops out of governor’s race
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As the primary elections approach in about six weeks, another Democrat has dropped out of California’s crowded governor’s race.
Former state comptroller Betty Yee of San Francisco announced her withdrawal Monday after polls showed she fell short of the top-ranked candidates, according to The Associated Press (AP).
His exit comes just a week after embattled former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell also dropped out of the race amid multiple serious sexual harassment allegations.
“Today I am announcing that my campaign for governor will be suspended,” Yee said in the video announcement, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported. “This campaign has always been about something much bigger than any one candidate. It’s about building a California where opportunity is real and embraced, government regains trust as responsible and accountable, and no one is left behind.”
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FILE – California Controller Betty Yee listens during a meeting on June 28, 2016 in Sacramento, California. Former Controller Yee announced on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, that he will run for governor in 2026 to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom. (AP Photo/Zengin Pedroncelli, File) (Zengin Pedroncelli/AP)
Yee, who is running to become California’s first female governor as Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to leave office, has consistently lagged in the polls, never rising above roughly 3% among likely voters. based on to local nonprofit organization Cal Matters.
He partly attributed his failure to gain traction in a race known for high costs and intense advertising demands to fundraising difficulties.
“It was becoming clear that the donors weren’t going to be there. Even some of my former supporters felt like they had to move on with their lives,” Yee said, according to the AP.
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Talk radio host Tavis Smiley (left) moderates the California Governor Candidate Forum on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
During an emotional announcement, Yee thanked supporters who stood by him throughout his two-year campaign; this emphasized his experience managing the state budget and emphasized his family’s middle-class immigrant background.
Before serving as state controller, where he oversaw state agencies and the allocation of state funds, Yee worked as a budget manager under former Gov. Gray Davis before being elected to the State Board of Equalization.
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Representative Eric Swalwell speaks at a press conference on committee assignments for the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol on January 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
With Yee’s departure, former Rep. Katie Porter became the first woman in the race.
As the June 2 primary elections approach, expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched state contests, other major remaining candidates include Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican frontrunners Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
