Overview
- Democrats warn that two Republicans — Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton — could take both runoff spots under California’s top-two system as dozens of Democratic candidates split the vote.
- Party leaders are pushing consolidation after weeks of discord, and outside simulations now put the chance of a Democratic lockout near 17% to 20%, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- A major televised debate was canceled after selection rules produced an all-white lineup, and USC said the furor over access had become a distraction from voter issues.
- State Democratic chair Rusty Hicks publicly urged lower-polling Democrats to quit the race in hopes of unifying support before vote-by-mail begins.
- Rep. Eric Swalwell said Trump tried to sway the contest after reports that officials sought FBI records from a decade-old probe that brought no charges, while Bianco paused an election-fraud inquiry after seizing over half a million 2025 ballots drew legal challenges.