Another Democrat exits crowded campaign for California governor

LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Another Democrat is exiting the crowded contest for California governor.

鈥� a former state controller鈥� announced Monday she was suspending her campaign, just over a week after fellow Democrat and former left the race following sexual assault allegations that he denies.

Yee was vying to be the first woman to hold the state鈥檚 highest office. But she lagged in fundraising and failed to break into the leading tier of candidates in polling since entering the contest in 2024. In a fluid race that many voters have ignored, she tried to pitch herself as a candidate 鈥渨ho focuses on solutions rather than soundbites鈥� or a levelheaded 鈥渂oring Betty.鈥�

None of it worked. And lacking funds for advertising 鈥� California has some of the most expensive media markets in the nation 鈥� there would be no way for her campaign to connect with voters across the vast state.

鈥淚t was becoming clear that the donors were not going to be there. Even some of my former supporters just felt like they needed to move on,鈥� Yee said in an online news conference disclosing her decision.

Even with Yee out, the contest to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom remains crowded and unpredictable, with no clear leader. Yee鈥檚 withdrawal leaves six established Democrats and two leading Republicans on a ballot with .

Mail ballots are scheduled to go to voters in early May, in advance of the June 2 primary election. At this stage of the campaign, Yee’s name cannot be removed.

Swalwell’s exit reordered the race, since he was among the leading Democrats. Yee, however, had been frozen around the bottom of the field with scant voter support, so the impact of her departure will not be as significant.

the party鈥檚 large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November. That鈥檚 because California has a primary system in which only the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Polling in late March and early April by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found a cluster of candidates in close competition: Democrats and Republicans and , and Swalwell. Other candidates were trailing. The polling was conducted before Swalwell withdrew.