Joy Reid warns California governor’s race could cost Democrats 2028
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Former MSNOW host Joy Reid said on “The Joy Reid Show” that California Democrats failed to properly vet the gubernatorial field, allowing two Republican candidates to come out on top of the race while broader concerns about Democrats’ preparation have not been addressed.
Reid framed his criticism around the risks of the contest and warned that control of California was central to Democrats’ electoral success.
“What we really care about in these streets is that California doesn’t go Republican,” he said.
Reid emphasized the importance of the state in presidential politics, arguing that Democrats cannot afford missteps in such a critical stronghold.
Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, left, and business leader Steve Hilton, both Republicans, were the top two California gubernatorial candidates in a recent poll by the Berkeley IGS. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images; Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“You can’t be president as a Democrat without California,” Reid said. “Do you see how many votes they have in the electoral college? That number is 54.”
When Reid questioned whether party officials had conducted adequate canvassing and opposition research during the primary, the segment turned to concerns about Democratic strategy.
“Don’t you have an opposition research arm within the Democratic Governors Association?” he asked.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, Republican candidate for governor of California, joins veterans advocate Kate Monroe on a tour of Skid Row in Los Angeles on January 6, 2026. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News/Getty Images)
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He argued that internal failures allowed “flawed” Democratic candidates to advance while the GOP remained competitive in the race.
“If you allow California to fall into the hands of someone who we cannot guarantee will have a free and fair election in the state of California, then you know what, Democrat, it becomes your responsibility to make 2028 happen because you all allowed Eric Swalwell to get to the front of the line without being a basic opposition research expert,” Reid said.
Reid said he learned the opposition survey was prepared by political opponents but had not yet been made public, raising questions about timing.
Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is surging in recent California gubernatorial polls, accused Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats of having a “sick and twisted love affair with criminals.” (Getty Images)
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“I learned over the weekend that there are people on the right who are preparing a large amount of opposition to attack this guy as he gets closer to the primary,” he said.
“They were going to wait until right before the primary,” Reid added. “Democratic Party, what is the plan here?”
Reid echoed the broader national implications by comparing California’s importance to Democrats to Texas’ importance to Republicans.
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“Likewise, Republicans can’t win the election in Texas if they lose 40 electoral college votes. The same goes for Democrats and California,” he said.
“You all didn’t think you needed to hack into a system, maybe there were some issues?”
Fox News Digital reached out to the California Democratic Party for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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