Sitting in Eric Buran’s AP US Government class, it seems like there’s nothing more important in the world than voting, and for Californians this year, that might be the case. As a state that can typically be an easy 55 electoral college votes for whatever Democratic candidate is running for president, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Governor Gavin Newsom succeeded by another liberal. But this year’s gubernatorial race may have a less than appetizing outcome for the many citizens worried about the continuing radical right-wing trend in DC.
Defined as “voters of one party reducing the collective vote share and increasing the chances of a candidate they do not support winning the election,” many Californians fear they will split the vote due to the staggering number of Democrats running for the governor’s office (compared to only two candidates running from the Republican party). With the rise of radical conservatism and authoritarian control, California has the opportunity to lead the crusade against MAGA’s frightening federal power, but this gubernatorial race could kill that dream. One of the conservative candidates, Chad Bianco, is a county sheriff with ties to the Oathkeepers, a far-right extremist group advocating for totalitarian control. While 61% of Californians believe elected officials need to stand up against immigration officers, Bianco plans to suspend sanctuary policies that protect immigrants and increase collaboration between ICE and state law enforcement. The other conservative candidate, Steve Hilton, is a British-American endorsed by President Donald Trump.
On the other side of the aisle, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer are the only Democratic candidates consistently polling in double digits, making them the most likely to have a chance at countering the two Republicans. Xavier Becerra is the former Secretary of Health and Human Services with a track record of suing the Trump administration during his time as a Congressional representative. However, he has faced criticism over how his department failed to properly account for all the migrant children that came into the US. Tom Steyer is a billionaire with past investments in private prisons and fossil fuels. However, he has since sold off those holdings and become a climate activist. He aims to create a fee on AI usage to aid displaced workers and challenge the monopoly utility companies have in California.
While this paragraph of facts is not enough to truly inform you of each candidate’s policy agenda, use it as a step through the door. These midterms are key to challenging the right-wing coalition currently dominating the federal government, but they’re only effective if people exercise their right to vote.