California Governor’s race: Too many choices?

Last Friday, the California Democratic Party kicked off its convention in San Francisco with what can only be described as a binge-watching session of fireside chats, as local party chair Nancy Tung interviewed all nine Democratic hopefuls in the race for California governor at the Commonwealth Club downtown. By the end of the convention, the state party had made no formal endorsement of any of the candidates, surely a setback for some but an opportunity for others. But which of them can meet the long-term challenges California faces in the future?

Speaking with Tung in order were former Congresswoman Katie Porter, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Assemblyman Ian Calderone, former Controller Betty Yee, School Superintendent Tony Thurmond, former federal Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and a late arrival, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Of all the candidates, only Mahan stuck around for the reception afterward. 

Porter’s ‘big stuff’: Affordability

Katie Porter leaned hard into affordability, casting it as the “touchstone issue” of the race. The former Orange County congresswoman and consumer protection attorney invoked grocery-store math — joking about skipping $9 cereal — to signal that she understands kitchen-table economics.

But Porter focused on what she called the “big stuff”: housing and health care. She proposed speeding up housing approvals, modernizing construction methods, and exploring new financing models to cut costs. She also pledged to confront the Trump administration — punctuated by her profane anti-Trump rally speech — while insisting she can work across the aisle without compromising core values.

Steyer: The activist billionaire

Tom Steyer said he left his hedge fund career because wealth alone felt empty. “I didn’t want to die and not have lived,” he told delegates, framing public service as a moral calling. It’s a narrative that, unfortunately, is all too familiar among California politicians. 

Steyer argued California is locked in a struggle between wealthy special interests and working people — and that his independence from corporate money lets him take on both. His platform included building one million homes in four years through faster permitting, zoning reform, new building technologies, rent control, and workforce housing. He also called for more education funding, paid for through tax reform and by lowering major household costs like housing, health care, and electricity.

Swalwell: A firewall against Trump

Eric Swalwell put the governor’s race in national terms. He argued the job has “two duties”: protect Californians from Trump, and get a handle on the cost of living. Highlighting his work on the Russia investigations, impeachment proceedings, and the Jan. 6 hearings, he portrayed himself as a tested counterweight to federal overreach, particularly in immigration enforcement.

On affordability, he proposed a 90-day “shot clock” for state housing approvals to boost supply and reduce rents. He also proposed a California research fund to attract global capital amid federal cuts, arguing that the state must use its economic clout to remain resilient.

Matt Mahan entered the race too late for the party’s endorsement ballot, but used the stage to argue for competence over ideology.

Mahan: The pragmatic outsider

Matt Mahan entered the race too late for the party’s endorsement ballot, but used the stage to argue for competence over ideology. He warned against “easy answers” from populist movements on both the left and right and called for policies with measurable results.

One measurable result he showcased was San Jose’s reduction in unsheltered homelessness. Mahan emphasized prevention, interim housing, motel conversions, data tracking, and limited court interventions for those refusing shelter. He also called for education reform focused on literacy, tutoring, and clearer performance metrics. As governor, he said he would prioritize housing production, homelessness, public safety, and the restoration of trust in government through transparent goals.

The larger challenge

Several other candidates brought policy credentials or name recognition. But California’s problems run deeper than partisan contrasts. The demographic and economic forces that powered decades of growth — global immigration, cheap capital, rapid tech expansion, and Pacific trade dominance — have shifted.

Meanwhile, homelessness, housing shortages, high costs, water constraints, uneven schools, and structural budget deficits have existed long before Trump and will persist beyond him. The next governor won’t just inherit a political fight with Washington — but a state enduring long-term economic and institutional challenges that slogans alone won’t resolve.

By the end of the convention, delegates were unable to produce the required majority for an endorsement in the governor’s race. Swalwell and Yee were top vote-getters, and Porter, an early runner, still couldn’t break 10 percent. Meanwhile, Democratic consultants are starting to get anxious that Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco could lock all the Democrats out of the “jungle primary,” even with their weak leads.  Meanwhile, Mahan wasn’t even on the ballot. Does that help or hinder his candidacy? We shall see.