All that voters heard from Democrats during the 2024 election was that Trump and the GOP were a "threat to democracy," but now, the Democrats' tune has shifted. As the California gubernatorial race approaches, the polling shows that the top candidates are Republican Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R).
For those who might not know, in California, there is a jungle primary, where no matter the party affiliation, the top two advance to the general election. This idea was pushed by the Democrats, thinking it would be an easy way to ensure that two Democrats finish in the top two and that the only choice voters would have in the general election would be two candidates from the same party. So far, that pipe dream has not come to fruition for the party, as there has not been a gubernatorial race where two Democrats advanced to the general election.
Now that there is the possibility of two Republicans advancing in June, due to Democrats advocating for the jungle primary, all of a sudden, some have forgotten what democracy means.
Some of these Democrats in the California governor’s race need to drop out. This is getting absurd. We cannot have a Republican leading the great state of California.
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) March 24, 2026
In a functioning democracy, voters get to decide who they want to vote for. In 2016, Democrats were again up in arms about Hillary Clinton losing, and they blamed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Green Party candidate Jill Stein for her loss. If it wasn't clear before, it is becoming more evident by the day that Democrats only favor democracy when it benefits them.
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California Could Do the Funniest Thing: GOP Leading 2026 Governor Polls
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was asked about the 2026 gubernatorial race and whether low-polling Democrats should drop out of the race:
"Rusty Hicks is head of the party, sent me his statement, and I read it a few hours ago, and I confess I agree. And I hadn't really processed it because there's just, I mean, at this moment in history, with all the peril and promise that marks this moment, for California, the most un-Trump state in America, to have a Republican Trumper running? There is no margin for error. This is a moment for real self-reflection. ... and the stakes couldn't be higher, and so all I'll say is, choose wisely."
Gov. Gavin Newsom agrees: low-polling Democrats should drop out of the California governor's race. pic.twitter.com/4hJtxCb2CT
— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) March 4, 2026
Reality check: Democrats have had 16-years of unchecked power and a supermajority in California. We have seen an increase in homelessness, gas prices, gas tax, corporations such as SpaceX leaving the Golden State, successful individuals like Elon Musk and Google's Sergey Brin leaving the state, electricity costs have gone up, housing costs have gone up significantly, potholes on freeway have increased, and wildfires that have ransacked communities, leaving thousands without a home, among other things, all while being a high tax state. This is the result of one-party Democrat rule.
We have the highest gas tax yet drive over the deepest potholes. We spend the most on homelessness yet have the most homeless. We spend the most on social services yet have the worst poverty. We're 1st in education spending growth yet 1st in illiteracy. Our government is broken. https://t.co/iBl2kEAf7g
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) January 12, 2026
Trump has absolutely nothing to do with the failures by the Democrat leadership in California. The argument from most Democrats running for governor is that we need someone who will stand up to Trump and counter him. How about working with him to make the state Golden again? They don't care about the well-being of Californians, and their words and actions show it on a daily basis.
The truth of the matter is, whoever is elected governor in November will have Trump in the White House for just two years of their term as governor. The Democrats continuously bring up Trump as a distraction tactic because they know they can draw the attention away from all their failures over the past two decades.
Highest gas prices. Highest taxes. Highest cost of living. California has the most expensive everything — and nothing to show for it. That’s why a Republican is leading in the polls. Californians are DONE with one-party rule! pic.twitter.com/mfGOAZirBM
— Steve Hilton (@SteveHiltonx) March 27, 2026
The state needs change; there needs to be checks and balances in Sacramento, and the polls are an indicator of that. If the polls hold, and all the Democrats currently in the race stay in, we could see two Republicans advancing to the general election.
