Struggling Democrats need to drop out of Californias crowded governor race or risk a GOP win, party leader warns

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Fearing the prospect of a Republican winning California’s gubernatorial race, state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks on Tuesday urged his party’s candidates who lack a viable path to victory to drop out.“It is imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” Hicks wrote in an open letter to the politicians vying to replace termed-out Gov.Gavin Newsom.

“I recognize my suggestions are hard for many to contemplate and may be even viewed as overly harsh by some.”Hicks did not name the Democrats he wants out of the race, but such a public admonishment by a party leader is rare in California politics.Even though the odds are relatively low, California cannot risk having a Republican elected as the next governor at a time when President Trump is in the White House, Hicks said.“[S]o much is at stake in our Nation and so many are counting on the leadership of California Democrats to stand up and speak out at this historic moment,” Hicks wrote.

“California’s leadership on the world stage is significantly harder if a Democrat is not elected as our next Governor.”Hicks urged Democrats languishing at the bottom of the field of candidates to drop out before the Friday deadline to officially file to run for governor — to ensure their names do not appear on the June primary ballot.Within hours of the letter’s release former state Controller Betty Yee and state Supt.of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond — two of the candidates lowest in recent opinion polls — officially filed papers to run for governor.Thurmond, who is Black and Latino, posted a video accusing the party of urging every person of color to drop out of the race.“Bernie Sanders was right.

Our political system is rigged, corrupted by the political elites, the wealthy and well connected,” he said in the video, which was posted on the social media platfor...