Prominent candidates for California’s open governor’s seat gathered Tuesday in Sacramento for the first joint forum since Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign over sexual‑assault allegations. The meeting — hosted by the state legislature — featured five leading Democrats and one Republican, each outlining how they would “make California more affordable and friendlier to businesses.” Apart from brief references to the scandal, the candidates largely stuck to campaign talking points.
Former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a longtime Democratic figure, bluntly criticized Swalwell’s rise, saying, “He was leading in the race. Why? Because we went after the first shiny object.” He added that Swalwell’s exit offered “a reset” for the contested contest. Conservative commentator Steve Hilton, the Republican front‑runner endorsed by President Donald Trump, seized on the scandal, declaring, “This Democratic Party has been in power for so long, they really are collapsing now into confusion, chaos and scandal. We’re desperate for change.”
San Jose mayor Matt Mahan, running his first statewide race, framed the broader political climate, stating, “The antidote to what we see in our politics today — the rising populism on the right and the left, candidates who run on ego and celebrity, whether it’s Donald Trump or Eric Swalwell — is competent leadership.” He emphasized policy over personality as the path forward.
Billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, who has yet to hold elected office, said he will focus on “building an economy rooted in dignity for working people.” State Assemblymember Nick Schultz echoed that message, noting Steyer will “put in the work to form strong relationships with the legislature” and “challenge the status quo.” Assemblymember Corey Jackson added that he backs candidates who have a “legitimate chance of winning” and share a “commitment to building an economy rooted in dignity for working people.”
The abrupt exit of Swalwell, who cannot be removed from the ballot, has left a vacuum that could reshuffle support among the remaining field. With more than 50 candidates still in the June 2 primary, Democrats fear that a fragmented vote could enable a Republican to win the top‑two primary and advance to the November general election — a scenario that would lock the state out of Democratic control under California’s unique election rules. Republicans, meanwhile, have yet to coalesce around a single contender; while Trump‑backed Hilton has secured a high‑profile endorsement, state officials note that fellow Republican Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, also commands a sizable share of party support.
As the campaign season accelerates, candidates will seek to court Swalwell’s former backers, while voters watch a field in flux that could reshape California’s political landscape for years to come.