California can hardly be considered “a democracy.”
In the place of an 89 year-old vegetative permanent politician, either a deep-state CIA stooge or TV star will be appointed, whoever it is will then become the new permanent office-holder
Its like something from the late Roman Empire
We used to laugh and point fingers at the Roman Empore. But the horse he appointed to the Roman Senate had more judgement and mind and morals than many (most ?) democrat Senators today.