The Democrat flops in governor’s race — and why Eric Swalwell could still play a role

The field of candidates for governor was once crowded with big-name California Democrats.

By Election Day, it had narrowed to two — Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer — and Republican Steve Hilton.

Each of those three campaigns has a story to tell about its own success.

Becerra will talk about how he overcame “racist” criteria on polling and fundraising to become the first viable Latino candidate for governor (after Eric Swalwell imploded in a sudden sex scandal).

In a supreme irony, former Congressman Eric Swalwell could play the spoiler in the California governor’s race. AP

Steyer will talk about how he fought billionaires and special interests — after spending over $200 million of his own money, a record for California (and it was just the primary).

Hilton can justifiably talk about the power of his policy ideas, and the importance of projecting a positive message about the state’s future.

But what about the also-rans?

Several political heavyweights never quite got off the ground.

The most prominent was San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. 

Mahan had a record of accomplishment to point to, and a giant war chest of Silicon Valley money.

But he entered the race too late, after the field of candidates was already bursting with big-name Democrats.

And his moderate pitch did not appeal to a Democratic Party base that is furious about the Trump presidency and eager to hear more strident voices.

Katie Porter, the former US representative, and a protégée of liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren, was an early front-runner.

But when she walked off the set of a CBS News interview last fall, she provoked questions about her temperament. 

California’s Swalwell imploded in a sudden sex scandal that forced him to pull out of the gubernatorial race. AP

Those doubts were reinforced by media reports about how she had treated staffers and even her former husband.

Former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa seems to have believed he was the heir apparent to the governor’s mansion, after finishing second to Newsom in the 2018 primary.

But he struggled to find a message. And while his criticisms of fellow Democrats were refreshing, they weren’t what the party base wanted to hear.

Villaraigosa had also been out of public office for more than a decade, and seemed out of touch with the times.

Another failed contender was Betty Yee, the state controller. 

She performed well at the party convention. But she had little charisma, no social media presence, and therefore no resonance with voters.

State schools superintendent Tony Thurmond performed well in the one debate for which he qualified. But it was too little, too late.

Thurmond had also taken a very unpopular position against parents’ rights to be notified if their children want to change genders at school.

Even in deep-blue California, that is not what voters want. 

Thurmond’s views on transgender issues are no different than those of the rest of the field, but he had been aggressive in pushing them, even visiting school board meetings personally.

He would have found it difficult to explain that, if his campaign had picked up any momentum.

Let us not forget two other Democrats.

One was a candidate who never ran: Rick Caruso.

Caruso lost to Karen Bass in the race for LA mayor in 2022. After the devastating fires last year, many Angelenos regretted that he had not won.

He considered running again for mayor, or for governor, but decided he would have more influence on social media and behind the scenes.

The other Democrat was Swalwell.

The disgraced former congressman still appeared on the ballot, because he dropped out too late to take his name off. He will likely win thousands of votes from people who don’t read the news.

That could prove to be a decisive margin in a close-run race.

In a supreme irony, Swalwell could play the spoiler.

Joel Pollak is Opinion editor of The California Post.

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