California Governor Gavin Newsom has chosen not to publicly endorse any Democratic candidates vying to succeed him. However, behind closed doors, he has expressed dissatisfaction with the current pool of contenders, as reported by a recent article. The pressure on him to take a stance in this contentious race continues to grow.
Privately, Newsom has voiced concerns to his close advisors about the leading Democratic candidates in the gubernatorial race. He reportedly criticized billionaire Tom Steyer, who is seeing a rise in the polls, as inconsistent. Additionally, he labeled former Congresswoman Katie Porter as potentially harmful to businesses.
The dramatic downfall of former Representative Eric Swalwell’s campaign has left the field in disarray. This has allowed Republican Steve Hilton and Steyer, a progressive hedge fund magnate who has heavily funded his own campaign, to top recent polls.
According to a report from CNN, Newsom, who is rumored to be considering a presidential bid, remains unenthusiastic about other Democrats in the race.
Newsom’s advisors have expressed concern over Porter, a steadfast progressive known for advocating increased corporate taxes, suggesting her policies might drive businesses away from the state.
Newsom has also had public disagreements with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan over issues like homelessness and clashed with former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, dating back to Villaraigosa’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Newsom also criticized Becerra’s performance as Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden — when he was harshly criticized for weak leadership during the Covid pandemic.
The governor has repeatedly batted away questions about the chaotic governor’s race — as anxieties persist among Dems about the possibility of a Republican lockout.
Pressure is growing for Newsom to do what he can to prevent two Republicans, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, from advancing.
He told reporters in March he wasn’t as “engaged as perhaps I might need to be” on the issue and suggested voters were tuning out the messy race.
Nonetheless, Newsom said he is “not as directly engaged as perhaps I might need to be” in the race.
There was a “series of circumstances that have shifted attention … Prop. 50, whether Padilla was going to get in, Kamala was going to get in,” he said
“When I’m out in the community people aren’t talking to me about it, which is interesting this late,” he said.
Sen. Alex Padilla was reportedly Newsom’s top choice, but the senator opted not to run.
Newsom has been curiously silent on Swalwell’s career implosion, which has dominated politics since Friday when allegations broke that he had sexually assaulted a former staffer and harassed other women.
Swalwell quit the governor’s race over the weekend and by Tuesday, he’d resigned from Congress. But accusers have continued to bring forward disturbing allegations about the former East Bay congressman, with model Lonna Drewes claiming he drugged and raped her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2018.
Swalwell spent campaign money at that hotel, the Montrose West Hollywood, during the same time period, The Post reported.
