Story perspectives

California Gubernatorial Race Turmoil After Swalwell's Exit

4/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

California's gubernatorial race is in turmoil after Rep. Eric Swalwell's exit, which he denies.
His departure could let Democrats like Tom Steyer (Democrat) and Katie Porter (Democrat) consolidate support.
Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton has not yielded a California GOP endorsement.
Neither Hilton nor rival Chad Bianco gained enough delegate support at the convention.
The June 2 primary could shift dynamics, amid fears of a general election lockout.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 California gubernatorial recall election marked a significant political shift when voters replaced Democratic Governor Gray Davis with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won with 48.6% of the vote. This unprecedented recall, supported by 55.4% of voters, highlighted the volatility within California politics. Today, Rep. Eric Swalwell's withdrawal from the race reflects ongoing challenges for Democratic unity as candidates like Tom Steyer and Katie Porter vie for support ahead of the June 2 primary.

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Story summary

California's gubernatorial race is in turmoil after Rep. Eric Swalwell's exit, which he denies.
His departure could let Democrats like Tom Steyer (Democrat) and Katie Porter (Democrat) consolidate support.
Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton has not yielded a California GOP endorsement.
Neither Hilton nor rival Chad Bianco gained enough delegate support at the convention.
The June 2 primary could shift dynamics, amid fears of a general election lockout.

1 / 2