A Red California? Coalition-Building Struggles in a Dominant Democratic Party
Photo Credit: Asees Bhullar
In 2009, in a move to earn Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado’s vote on that year’s controversial budget bill, Senate Democrats put forth a proposal to introduce the non-partisan two-tiered primary, which would pass with Proposition 14 in 2010. Considered a legislative goal by then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the “jungle primary” introduced a system where candidates, regardless of party, would all face one another in the primary, with the two most-voted candidates advancing to the November general election. Schwarzenegger and Senate Republicans characterized the change as promoting more coalition-driven, moderate lawmakers that would focus on pragmatism rather than baseless policy. A major consequence of this newer electoral system, however, has been the splintering and factionalization of the state’s Democratic Party, a split that could consequentially lead to the state’s first Republican governor in nearly two decades.
California is set to hold its gubernatorial primary this June, and though it is a deep-blue state at both the federal and state level, no Democratic candidate has held a commanding position over any other candidate with the Democratic vote split amongst seven prominent Democrats in recent polling. Since the beginning of this campaign season, policy proposals have centered on a central message of fighting back against the Trump administration’s extensive battle with the state and its status as a liberal bastion. However, exactly how to rebuke President Trump is a point of contention and a key factor in how Democrats have split into factions recently. Moreover, there is an apparent ideological split between many of the Democratic candidates, ranging from progressive populists like philanthropist Tom Steyer to moderate pragmatists like San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. It is these burdens that have caused Democrats to fail again and again in coalition-building amongst their voter base, a fact best displayed at the February Democratic convention in San Francisco, in which delegates failed to endorse any gubernatorial candidate.
Republicans do not have to contend with such issues simply because of their smaller size and simpler message about cutting taxes and slashing regulations to bring down costs borne by the average resident. This more unified message has allowed the top two Republican candidates, commentator Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco, to advance to the top-two spots in recent polling. Both candidates have been spearheading mass fundraising efforts, with Hilton raising more than $4.1 million dollars in the second half of 2025 alone, with top Democratic candidates such as Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter raising a $1 million less, a further repudiation of Democrats as the primary goes closer.
Though it is not unusual for Democrats to be split amongst multiple candidates, it is unusual for there to be this much division amongst Democrats this late in the campaign. In 2018, the last time the governor’s seat was open, by late February, Democrats had only two major candidates splitting the vote in the polls, with at least one expected to advance to the general election later that year. Contrasted with the polls from March 2026, there is no two-candidate split and Republicans have leveraged such a growing divide, focusing on issues they see Democrats as being soft on, such as crime and the cost-of-living crisis.
Moreover, though California Democrats were successful in passing Proposition 50, a statewide gerrymander that heavily favors Democratic candidates, late last year, there still remained a disunified Democratic message toward the issue. As deliberation over the ramifications of the proposition endured throughout the campaign, Mahan and Steyer presented themselves as both reluctant supporters and fervent endorsers respectively, repeating the theme of factionalization yet again.
Steyer and Mahan represent a microcosm of California Democrats at large, and as political polarization between the two parties becomes more and more apparent with each election, Democrats have seen major policy and ideological splits within their own ranks. Stardom and the endless pursuit of office, rather than policy, has played an ever-essential role in candidates' platforms, as they chase voters' attention rather than focusing on what policies are of actual importance to voters. The practice of “political jockeying” is not unfamiliar to California, especially due to the near-complete Democratic dominance at the state level, but this year’s candidates have found themselves vying for the spotlight in flashy ads and attacks against their opponents, showing a level of disregard for voters’ own beliefs.
To ensure a strong and unified response to the ever-encroaching Trump administration and to represent the majority of voters, it is necessary for Democrats to find common ground rather than create discord within their own ranks. Amidst a messy primary season, a unifying force can be found in the chaos caused by a deeply oppressive presidential administration, and its growing prevalence should be used to build a coalition against President Trump, rather than being used to divide the country and the state even further.
Democrats must find ways in the coming months to coalesce around one another and end the intra-party division or risk a governor that will not be able to serve a majority of voters aptly. Republicans have again and again promised to work with Trump and allow for greater cooperation between the state and the federal government, undoing the current Newsom administration’s opposition to the suppressive tactics employed by President Trump. Whether it be a moderate message or a progressive one, it must be a strong, unified effort in order to provide a much-needed check on an unbalanced administration.