{"id":46891,"date":"2026-02-25T11:58:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=46891"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:58:43","slug":"california-democratic-party-delegates-cant-agree-on-top-endorsements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/california-democratic-party-delegates-cant-agree-on-top-endorsements\/","title":{"rendered":"California Democratic Party delegates can\u2019t agree on top endorsements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/users\/profile\/Patrick_Hoge\">By Patrick Hoge | Examiner staff writer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feb 23, 2026 (SFExaminer.com)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The California Democratic Party gathered in San Francisco over the weekend for a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/california-democrats-2026-endorsements-sf-convention\/article_813b1441-60cd-4458-8ea4-33d8fe157544.html\">festival of political insiders<\/a>, with plans to vote on whom to back in statewide elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But they ended up not settling on a candidate for governor or for several other top-of-the-ticket races in which Democrats were competing for endorsements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As expected, given the eight Democratic gubernatorial candidates seeking the party\u2019s imprimatur, nobody won the necessary 60% of the delegates\u2019 votes at the California Democratic Party 2026 State Convention to secure an endorsement for chief executive of the state government. Current Governor Gavin Newsom is termed out in 2026, leaving&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/2026-california-governor-race-is-still-completely-wide-open\/article_3926186d-4767-4aff-8f49-7917684a4db3.html\">an open field<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, a congressman from the East Bay who has been an energetic antagonist to President Donald Trump, led the pack with 571 votes, or 24% of delegate ballots cast. He quickly issued a statement thanking \u201cCalifornia Democratic Party delegates for backing me to be California\u2019s fighter and protector of working families\u201d and looking \u201cforward to uniting our party and leading us to victories across the state in November.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The party\u2019s display of indecision came just days after a new&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-hilton-swalwell-bianco-lead-nonpartisan-primary-for-governor\/\">Emerson College Polling\/Inside California Politics survey<\/a>&nbsp;showed Republican&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/republican-steve-hilton-outlines-california-governor-plans\/article_9d22eb1c-91a6-40b7-bbe7-0151f84fd392.html\">Steve Hilton<\/a>&nbsp;leading the gubernatorial field at 17%. Swalwell tied with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco \u2014 another&nbsp;Republican \u2014 at 14%, and 21% of respondents said they were undecided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The nightmarish spectre thus loomed for some of those filling the halls of Moscone Center that \u2014 however remote the possibility \u2014 there could be a Democratic lockout after the top-two primary on June 2 if the nine major Democratic candidates now in the race split the vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re staring at what would be the possibility of the greatest ever California Democratic screw-up in history,\u201d said Assemblymember&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/urban-development\/sf-lawmaker-legislation-aims-to-simplify-monthly-rent-bill\/article_128edd1b-573a-401c-ab44-660cb0e8d24b.html\">Matt Haney<\/a>, who represents the eastern half of The City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was \u201cuneasiness\u201d about the gubernatorial&nbsp;race, even as delegates were fired up about the prospects for fighting Trump and taking back control of Congress from Republicans, which were major themes of the gubernatorial-candidate speeches at the convention, Haney said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere was no candidate who everyone was talking about and was excited about, at least in the governor\u2019s race,\u201d said Haney, who has yet to endorse anyone for the state\u2019s top job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How much the weekend\u2019s insidery proceedings will reflect or influence state voters is unclear. Former state controller&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/betty-yee-sees-path-to-california-governor-in-wide-open-race\/article_312ef5fe-f86c-4ca9-b398-6a7d198657dd.html\">Betty Yee<\/a>&nbsp;clocked in at 1.8% in the Emerson poll \u2014&nbsp;but she came in second place at the convention with 411 votes, or 17%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yee was followed by former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/2026-california-governor-race-get-to-know-xavier-beccera\/article_00b241f6-3fd1-456f-bb91-9a3162a89241.html\">Xavier Becerra<\/a>&nbsp;with 14% of the votes, billionaire environmentalist&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/2026-california-governor-race-tom-steyer-interview\/article_25eaac3a-8997-4072-9b61-91935d4f7100.html\">Tom Steyer<\/a>&nbsp;with 13%, former U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/katie-porter-says-she-fell-short-in-viral-video-moments\/article_f05c83a0-7a19-5b45-9204-30f89882ed42.html\">Katie Porter<\/a>&nbsp;with 9%, state Superintendent of Public Instruction&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/education\/tony-thurmond-could-join-2026-california-governor-field\/article_7f83fb50-1c2c-11ee-992c-078e9c9efa9a.html\">Tony Thurmond<\/a>&nbsp;with just under 8%, former Los Angeles Mayor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/antonio-villaraigosa-outlines-vision-as-california-governor\/article_641d99b5-4d7f-4162-9471-d68c50ec0f75.html\">Antonio Villairagosa<\/a>&nbsp;with 4.6%, and former Assembly Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/ian-calderon-offers-generation-shift-as-california-governor\/article_9c2c5f40-4038-411f-8180-30f9d2460c0e.html\">Ian Calderon<\/a>&nbsp;with less than 1%. About 8.5% of votes were to endorse no one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yee, a San Francisco native, hailed the voting results as a \u201cshake-up\u201d and a \u201cmajor shift\u201d in the governor\u2019s race with her \u201cunderdog\u201d campaign \u201covertaking most of the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the party delegates who showed that working people still have the power to make change and that their votes must be earned \u2014 not bought,\u201d Yee said in a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yee rejected concerns that California\u2019s crowded field of Democratic candidates could end up splitting the vote, allowing a Republican candidate to be elected governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is no way California will elect a Republican Governor in 2026, no way, it\u2019s simply not going to happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee said that Yee\u2019s second place showing was likely a reflection of the recognition of her competence and qualifications, along with the high regard Yee enjoys in the state party \u2014 of which she was previously vice chair \u2014 rather than her electability, given her low showing in polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe real question is going to be whether or not that translates into something like financial backing for her,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Money will be vital to communicating with voters because the state is so big, Tung said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yee\u2019s campaign for governor had raised $1.8 million as of Jan. 25, according to the California Secretary of State\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Haney expressed similar sentiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople love Betty, but it hasn\u2019t yet translated for her into competitive poll numbers or fundraising or endorsements,\u201d Haney said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tung said that she thought it was \u201cincumbent upon party leaders\u201d to start having conversations with candidates \u201cabout whether or not their campaigns are viable\u201d so Democrats don\u2019t get frozen out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can never say that it won\u2019t happen, right?\u201d Tung said of the potential for two Republicans to be the only ones left standing after the June primary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One candidate not considered by delegates over the weekend was San Jose Mayor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/matt-mahan-pitches-pragmatism-in-california-governor-bid\/article_632bed6f-9ab5-4674-a94b-9d7c83b0ff5a.html\">Matt Mahan<\/a>, who&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/matt-mahan-running-for-governor\/article_affbe5af-b015-4633-995a-eb9e9a6847bc.html\">jumped into the race on Jan. 29<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;too late to be eligible for voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahan attracted attention by quickly collecting $7.3 million in campaign contributions as of Feb. 12, suggesting the possibility that he could effectively build name recognition and spread his moderate message of improving government effectiveness across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cObviously, Matt Mahan got in with a splash and a lot of money, and so it remains to be seen how that translates into support,\u201d Haney said. \u201cHe\u2019s got to introduce himself, still, to most of the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recent Emerson poll suggested Mahan has ground to cover, finding he got 3.4% support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWill he be able to lift his name ID, especially in Southern California?\u201d asked Todd David, political director of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/how-abundant-sf-remade-the-san-francisco-democratic-party\/article_32acbf3e-e6e2-11ee-8fd9-4fea6ff4e41e.html\">&nbsp;Abundant SF<\/a>. &#8220;I think that\u2019s the open question of the governor\u2019s race right now.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other top state races in which the convention did not produce party endorsements included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Lieutenant governor, for which current Treasurer Fiona Ma got 49%; former Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs got 24%; and Josh Fryday, the chief service officer in Newsom\u2019s administration, got 21%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Treasurer, for which current Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis got 52%, state Sen. Anna Caballero got 35%, and state Board of Equalization member Tony Vasquez got 7%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Insurance commissioner, for which state Sen. Ben Allen got nearly 42%; former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim got 40%; former state Sen. Steven Bradford got nearly 9%; and San Francisco financial analyst Patrick Wolff got 6%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Superintendent of public instruction, for which Los Angeles Community College District Trustee Nichelle Henderson got nearly 25%; state Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi got just under 22%; former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon got 17%; former state Sen. Josh Newman got close to 17%; and San Diego Board of Education President Richard Barrera got nearly 13%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Delegates did award endorsements in several uncontested races to candidates seeking reelection, including Shirley Weber for secretary of state, former San Francisco supervisor Malia Cohen for state controller; and Rob Bonta for attorney general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As expected, state Sen. Scott Wiener won the party\u2019s endorsement in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi after he won more than 77% of the pre-endorsement balloting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Haney said the lack of agreement on candidates in some contests showed the races were genuinely competitive, with some younger candidates bringing fresh energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think that\u2019s a good thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tung said such endorsements are nice to have, but lacking one will likely not be determinative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really move the needle,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides the politicking for statewide offices, Tung said the San Francisco County Central Committee used the weekend convention to publicize the policies the local party has supported since a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/sf-democrats-for-change-ride-dccc-wave-in-early-results\/article_3d40522e-db68-11ee-a066-c75013a00de6.html\">moderate majority won election<\/a>&nbsp;in March 2024, such as supporting public safety, housing construction and cutting burdensome government bureaucracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The organization also hosted a series of 15-minute fireside chats Friday at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California with all nine major Democratic gubernatorial candidates. On Saturday night, it hosted a party sponsored by Laborers International Union of North America and the newly renamed North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe talk a lot about serious things during the convention,\u201d Tung said. \u201cI think part of developing relationships is also connecting on a less serious level, and just having some music, some food and drink and making sure that people are leaving San Francisco also having had some fun.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The California Democratic Party gathered in San Francisco over the weekend for a&nbsp;festival of political insiders, with plans to vote on whom to back in statewide elections. But they ended up not settling on a candidate for governor or for several other top-of-the-ticket races in which Democrats were competing for&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/california-democratic-party-delegates-cant-agree-on-top-endorsements\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46891"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46898,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891\/revisions\/46898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}