‘People are not passive’: Newsom and top California Democrats move behind the scenes in governor’s race
Newsom and California Democrats are quietly shaping the next governor's race, betting voters won't stay passive as backroom maneuvers replace open primaries.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and senior Democrats are working behind the scenes to influence the 2026 governor's race, convinced that voters will not simply accept whatever candidates the party offers.
The maneuvering reveals a party apparatus determined to steer outcomes even as it publicly champions democratic choice. Insiders describe a deliberate effort to identify and elevate preferred successors while discouraging others, all before any formal campaign begins.
One unnamed Democratic strategist captured the mindset: 'People are not passive.' That blunt assessment drives the current shadow campaign, where party leaders are mapping alliances, testing messages, and quietly clearing the field.
Newsom himself has avoided naming favorites in public but has signaled strong interest in maintaining progressive policy continuity. Top Democrats are focused on preserving the state's leftward tilt on housing, climate, and criminal justice even as voter frustration with homelessness and cost of living grows.
The approach underscores a deeper tension: a dominant party that fears losing control more than it fears genuine competition. By operating out of sight, California Democrats risk reinforcing the very cynicism they claim to oppose.
What remains is whether these private calculations will produce a candidate capable of addressing the state's visible failures, or simply another heir apparent insulated from real accountability.
Original reporting: Yahoo Entertainment.
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