The crowded race for California governor still has no clear front-runner with only days left for voters to decide which two candidates to advance to the general election in November. Fewer Democrats are voting early so far this year than usual. Some Democratic voters say they aren't impressed with the field, while others say they're fearful of two Republican candidates advancing and locking out Democrats. That's possible because the state's primary system allows the top two vote-getters to advance regardless of party. But it became less likely after one of the major Democrats dropped out and President Donald Trump endorsed one of the leading Republicans.
Democrats have run California for years. But in a nationally critical election, the party is being confronted by the limits of its own power: the race for governor is out of control. Barely a month before the start of mail-in voting, Democratic leaders are openly dreading the possible loss of a statewide election for the first time in two decades. No star has emerged from a muddled field of candidates for the state's premier job. Meanwhile the race has degenerated into finger-pointing over debate eligibility, identity politics and 2025 ballot counting — issues distant from voters struggling with soaring gas and food costs.
For the last two decades, California’s governors and legislators — and lobbyists for countless groups with stakes in the state budget — have e…
