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A Republican Can Be California’s Next Governor If Republicans Turn Out
American Thinker ^ | 05/20/2026 | Robin Itzler

Posted on 05/20/2026 10:31:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The once Golden State has a jungle primary, meaning the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. As in the 2024 Senate race, Democrat party leaders are determined to repeat their primary strategy to set up a general election between a Democrat and a Republican.

In the 2024 senatorial primary, then-Democratic Representatives Adam Schiff and Katie Porter held the one-two spot for a long time. But the last thing Democrats wanted was for Schiff and Porter to win the jungle primary and advance to the general election, where the two Democrats would spend months and dollars attacking each other.

The Schiff campaign started ignoring Porter and began attacking Republican candidate Steve Garvey for his conservative positions. Garvey, a former Los Angeles Dodger, had name recognition but lacked money to advertise throughout the “yuuge” state. Schiff’s attacks introduced Garvey to the populace as the “conservative” candidate.

Suddenly, Republicans were learning more about Steve Garvey, and they liked what Schiff was telling them.

Garvey moved up in the polls, and Porter moved down, finally out of contention. (Porter was very angry but did not throw hot mashed potatoes on Schiff’s head.)

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The 2024 senatorial general election was now Democrat Schiff versus Republican Garvy. It was such a “close” race that most media outlets called it for Schiff minutes after the polls closed.

Now two years later, the Democrat playbook looks like it will be repeated in California’s gubernatorial primary. There are a lot of statewide and down-ballot races, but the big matzoh ball is the gubernatorial race. There are 61 candidates running for governor: 24 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 1 Libertarian, 1 Peace and Freedom, and 23 running with no party affiliation. However, it’s basically down to seven:

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2026; adamschiff; california; governor; highspeedrail; katieporter; robinitzler; stevegarvey; stevehilton
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Here are the seven candidates for California Governor:

Chatter about “Republican turnout for a Democrat lockout” has been driving much of the social media debate, with supporters of Hilton and Bianco attacking each other. (I won’t be getting as many Christmas cards this year.) Many believe Republicans had a decent chance of locking out Democrats had President Trump not gotten involved in the primary by endorsing Hilton.

1 posted on 05/20/2026 10:31:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
If reports are accurate, Democrats have determined populist Steve Hilton would be weaker than conservative Sheriff Chad Bianco. This explains why Democrats have started promoting Hilton as “conservative.” From Politico:

Newsom said there was a “break-the-glass” contingency plan to prevent that (both Republicans winning the primary) from happening and alluded to behind-the-scenes efforts to rally people. He did not specify his activities, but the Democratic Governors Association recently began sending mail highlighting Republican Steve Hilton as a fierce conservative. The ostensible opposition campaign could drive GOP voters to Hilton, ensuring he consolidates the party’s voters and saps the support of the other Republican candidate, Chad Bianco, enough to keep him from finishing in the top two.

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Let’s say Democrats are successful so that Hilton is in the primary top two and not Bianco. It’s difficult to believe that the “pink vagina wearing hat/no kings rally/defund the police” Democrats would vote for a former Fox News host who was endorsed by President Trump. Democrats hate Fox News, and they hate Trump even more. If it’s Hilton versus a Democrat, the gubernatorial race will be all about Donald Trump.

2 posted on 05/20/2026 10:32:47 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

a jungle primary. That’s so appropriate


3 posted on 05/20/2026 10:33:13 AM PDT by MarlonRando
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To: SeekAndFind
Note that no voter ID is required to vote in CA elections. If anyone is planning a trip to CA during election time...


4 posted on 05/20/2026 10:35:59 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: SeekAndFind

Voter apathy wins elections for liberals


5 posted on 05/20/2026 10:37:55 AM PDT by llevrok (Voter apathy wins elections for liberals.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Corruption and incompetence are firmly entrenched in Sacramento.

One honest Republican can’t, and won’t, make a difference.


6 posted on 05/20/2026 10:38:23 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Of course we’ll turn out. The question is whether or not the voting machines will change our votes and how successful will demonicRATS be in harvesting fraudulent ballots and disappearing our ballots.


7 posted on 05/20/2026 10:42:17 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Interesting. In a radio interview today (KSFO 810 AM), Hilton said that democrats, particularly Newsom, are pushing Bianco in order to split the R vote, ensuring that two dems occupy the top two spots on the ballot. He added that Bianco, at about 10% has no chance and his persistence in campaigning will help elect another dem governor.


8 posted on 05/20/2026 10:47:09 AM PDT by DPMD (u)
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To: SeekAndFind

If a republican DOES somehow win, I expect the “RESIST!” rhetoric to be turned up to 11. As Newscum said “Ve have vays of resisting”.


9 posted on 05/20/2026 10:48:58 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: SeekAndFind
If it’s Hilton versus a Democrat, the gubernatorial race will be all about Donald Trump.

With Democrats, everything is about Donald Trump.

10 posted on 05/20/2026 10:58:25 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: AnotherUnixGeek
no voter ID is required to vote in CA elections.

Probably none to register to vote either.

11 posted on 05/20/2026 11:00:25 AM PDT by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Kalifornia Democrats control the ballot box with more mailed out ballots than there are legal voters. Unless or until the Democrats are policed in there mailed ballot scheme, there is no way that any Republican possibly win anything in that state. People, Democrats in the State house and County election officials caught up in the election rigging up and down the state need to go to jail for a minimum of 20 years. Some for longer but that would be a good start in bringing back integrity to Kalifornia’s elections.


12 posted on 05/20/2026 11:14:59 AM PDT by drypowder
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To: SeekAndFind
Nope, the fraud is too well ingrained in the voting system, no Republican will ever win a significant election in CA, same in Oregon & Washington.

BUT, if there is finally federal investigation/intervention to expose the fraud & prosecute the fraudsters and elections are actually fair, then a Republican could win.

13 posted on 05/20/2026 11:28:16 AM PDT by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: SeekAndFind

Worth a try, but good luck beating the Democrat directed vote fraud in that state. As with many other blue states much of the vote fraud is actually assisted at the state level.


14 posted on 05/20/2026 11:39:12 AM PDT by Revel
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To: SeekAndFind

A Republican Can Be California’s Next Governor

Somebody has to it hasn’t had any leadership in years.


15 posted on 05/20/2026 12:05:56 PM PDT by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
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To: SeekAndFind
People will come from far and wide to vote for Pratt and Republicans.

It's illegal to ask for or show ID to vote in California.

The Democrats might get a lesson in unintended consequences.

16 posted on 05/20/2026 12:30:34 PM PDT by lewislynn (If you think Elon Musk is a genius, you haven't seen his "truck".)
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To: SeekAndFind

demoncRATS have owned CA for decades. They will not give up easily especially the demoncRATS ruling in Sacramento.


17 posted on 05/20/2026 1:07:01 PM PDT by gildafarrell (To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not To Yield!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The DNC fraud machine will not permit that.
They are burrowed too deep.

They did not allow knewsome to be recalled which should have been a slam funk.


18 posted on 05/20/2026 1:11:15 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: doorgunner69

The democrats have long been experts at stealing elections by various means. Republicans have no chance.


19 posted on 05/20/2026 1:49:07 PM PDT by pawpawrick (I had a life once but my job ate it)
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