Gavin Newsom trashes California’s Dem choices for governor; could Republicans win?  

Gavin Newsom is not thrilled with California’s remaining choices for governor. This race is getting really interesting now that Eric Swalwell, the ostensible front-runner among the Dems, has had to exit the race amid sexual misconduct allegations. But the problem is, Newsom thinks the other choices are all terrible. 

He privately slammed them all, according to CNN.  

Newsom said that former Congresswoman Katie Porter would drive business away from the state. He dislikes San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the most moderate guy in the race, for personal reasons. He similarly has beef with Antonio Villaraigosa, and he doesn’t like Xavier Becerra either.

Tom Steyer, the far-left billionaire and political activist, is currently leading the pack, though Newsom has understandable concerns about whether he could win — and whether he can govern effectively if he does. 

That’s the Democratic side, but of course, the California election doesn’t have sides at all: the top two candidates in the jungle primary advance. Right now, the Dems are so divided that the top two candidates are both Republicans.  

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News personality endorsed by Donald Trump, is currently the front-runner. California Dems certainly don’t want the election to come down to just Republican choices, and so they’re hoping Newsom and Nancy Pelosi will work together to help narrow the field. So it’s bad news for them that Newsom is apparently dissatisfied with all of these choices. 

Hilton is indeed a very far-left person, and Katie Porter has been dogged by her own scandals. As I explained earlier this week, for all the deserved attention being paid to Eric Swalwell’s misdeeds, Katie Porter is accused of violence against her ex-husband, demeaning and abusive behavior toward staff members, and a dismissive attitude toward voters in California who don’t see eye to eye with her. Remember this?  

As for Matt Mahan, he is polling less well than Porter or Tom Steyer, though he has been rising in the polls thanks to favorable media attention. Here he was on “Morning Joe” touting his record reducing homelessness and crime, two big issues in the state.  

Reading between the lines, it seems like that’s the reason Newsom doesn’t like him: Because he’s been critical of Newsom and the national Democratic Party’s failure to make cities more livable by getting dangerous people and drug addicts off the street. Americans do not want to live like this, and are desperate for the Democratic Party to take their concerns seriously.  

So maybe Newsom should reconsider Mister Mahan — because if Dems get behind someone who doesn’t care about crime, they may end up with a Republican governor. 

Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary. 

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