Commentary: Californians on a confounding race for governor: 'I haven't ... a clue who I'm going to vote for'

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Eddie Martinez can’t stand Donald Trump.So when Eric Swalwell entered the race for California governor, Martinez had his candidate.“I liked the way he took Trump on, the impeachment thing in Congress,” Martinez said of the former Bay Area congressman, a Trump nemesis who served as one of the House prosecutors in 2021 when Democrats held the wayward president to account for the second time.Then, suddenly, Swalwell’s campaign collapsed under the weight of allegations of abuse, including charges he sexually assaulted a former aide.

With Martinez’s choice out of the running, the Democrat turned to the candidate who’d been his second pick all along, Xavier Becerra.Martinez has been familiar with Becerra for decades, going back to when the former congressman, state attorney general and Biden Cabinet member was in the state Assembly.To his credit, said the 65-year-old retired public relations strategist, Becerra has largely kept clear of controversy and there’s never been a whiff of personal scandal — an important consideration after Swalwell’s spectacular self-destruction.On top of all that, Martinez said as he prepared to drop his mail ballot at a post office in Alhambra, it would be nice for California to elect its first Latino governor in modern times.

It’s been, Martinez observed, more than 150 years.Far from boring, the contest is the most wide open in a generation, with a potential to make history in November.Those yawning at the contest may be looking for glitz and entertainment.

Voters aren’t.With the gubernatorial primary entering its final two weeks, a contest that had been stubbornly formless has finally gained coherence.Becerra, who’d been widely given up for dead as he foundered near the bottom of polls, has unexpectedly emerged as the Democrat to beat.“He has the most experience,” said Ruben Avita, a 57-year-old actor who leans Democratic an...