Commentary: Unhappy with the choices for California governor? Get real
This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
California has tried all manner of design in choosing its governor.Democrat Gray Davis, to name a recent example, had an extensive background in government and politics and a bland demeanor that suggested his first name was also a fitting adjective.
Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, by contrast, was a novice candidate who ran for governor on a whim.His super-sized action hero persona dazzled Californians like the pyrotechnics in one of his Hollywood blockbusters.In the end, however, their political fates were the same.
Both left office humbled, burdened with lousy poll numbers and facing a well of deep voter discontent.(Schwarzenegger, at least, departed on his own terms.
He chased Davis from the Capitol in an extraordinary recall and won reelection before his approval ratings tanked during his second term.)There are roughly a dozen major candidates for California governor in 2026 and, taken together, they lack even a small fraction of Schwarzenegger’s celebrity wattage.Nor do any have the extensive Sacramento experience of Davis, who was a gubernatorial chief of staff under Jerry Brown before serving in the Legislature, then winning election as state controller and lieutenant governor.That’s not, however, to disparage those running.Toni Atkins is one of just three people in history to head both houses of California’s Legislature.
Despite that Sacramento know-how and an inspirational backstory, her candidacy never caught fire.The contestants include a former Los Angeles mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa; three candidates who’ve won statewide office, former Atty.Gen.
Xavier Becerra, schools Supt.Tony Thurmond and former Controller Betty Yee; two others who gained national recognition during their time in Congress, Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell; and Riverside County’s elected sheriff, Chad Bianco.The large field offers an ample buffet from which to choose.
The rap on thi...