2018 California Gubernatorial Election Megathread

[smoltchanov]

Well, IMHO, Faulconer CAN beat any posssible Democratic candidate, but that doesn't mean he WILL surely beat them. A race with Fasulconer in it would be close and unpredictable until the end... (again - IMHO). Whether such race materializes - we will see..

[smoltchanov]

Kevin Faulconer would destroy everyone in this race. Chiang or Newsom are both weak candidates who will be annihilated by him.

lol

In case you haven't noticed, the Republican brand in California is dirt. Their star recruits in a massive Republican wave both lost by double digits, and the demographics have only gotten uglier for them since then.

Bullsh**t. Swearingen and Peterson were far from the best possible recruits for Repiblicans in 2014 and they lost by 7-8% in November. Kamala Harris won in 2010 by 1% and only after prolonged count. It always makes me laugh how confident Democrats are BEFORE  elections (especially - midterms) and which weak "explanations" they present after being thoroughly drubbed in them. I remember how my Democratic friends tried to convince me that in no way Democrats can lose governorships of Maryland and Massachusetts. I had good last laugh)))))

[smoltchanov]

IMHO, polarization of the country is one of the biggest, and,potentially, most dangerous problems of US. If it will continue for some more decades - there will be no single country with present name, but a lot of debris..

[smoltchanov]

Maybe a general election match between him and Newsom will help draw attention to the discriminatory and unconstitutional nature of top two primaries.

If voters choose two members of the same party for the top two there is nothing unconstitutional about it. It was a moderate Republican who pushed the system because he thought it would make it easier for moderate Republicans to make the general election.

But by doing that, it then disenfranchises political minorities who aren't members of that party.

Well, Louisiana made it for decades (and still does), and nobody really complains. After all - a very big percentage of American people are permanently disenfranchised: Indies and small parties supporters. To be politically relevant they are forced to choose "the lesser of two evils" from candidates of two big parties. Or, essentially, waste their vote.

[smoltchanov]

Agree. Without Faulconer it's, probably, Swearingen.. But - she is more conservative on social issues, and this is a substantial minus: i can (as i said) imagine republican being governor of California, but i can't do the same for anti-choice Republican for example...

[smoltchanov]

Agree. Without Faulconer it's, probably, Swearingen.. But - she is more conservative on social issues, and this is a substantial minus: i can (as i said) imagine republican being governor of California, but i can't do the same for anti-choice Republican for example...

Darrell Issa might run.

That said, I think James Hahn might want the Attorney General position when/if Harris leaves. Other statewide offices up in 2018 include:

Lieutenant Governor: D: Todd Gloria, R: Steve Poizner
Secretary of State: D: Alex Padilla(Incumbent), R: Abel Maldonado, Dan Logue
State Controller: D: Betty Yee(Incumbent), R: Tony Strickland, David Evans
Attorney General: D: James Hahn, Carmen Trutanich, Ron Galperin R: Stephen Cooley, Anthony Adams
Treasurer: R: Meg Whitman, Robert Dutton D: José Hernandez, Jay Chen, Laura Richardson
Insurance Commissioner: D: Lee Rogers, Hector De La Torre, Joe Dunn R: Michael Villines, Elizabeth Emken

Well, i always try not to be "one party hack", and thus - tried to find Republican candidates i could theoretically support in this list.  Cooley - sure, Maldonado - may be.. And that, probably, all. Surely - not Issa..

[smoltchanov]

Oh well.

Meg Whitman's pro-choice, IIRC. As for Representatives who are in the Main Street Partnership, I think Jeff Denham, Mimi Walters, or David Valadao would be interested.

Could you explain what's wron with Abel Maldonado or Steve Poizner?

Nothing with Maldonado, he simply doesn't especially impress me as a strong candidate. Poizner moved to the right in his latest statewide campaign compared with his first race for Assembly (when i was for him..)

[smoltchanov]

I guess 2018 will be Newsom vs. Chiang in November thanks to our horrible jungle primary system.

Well,  i don't think that many California Democrats will be against such guaranteed choice. Just as most will be satisfied with this year Senate choice.. But in addition it gives a moderate votes some election leverage in this ultrapolarized times. Otherwise they wouldn't (essentially) have any reasonable choice in duel between left loonie Democrat and right crazy Republican...

[smoltchanov]

I guess 2018 will be Newsom vs. Chiang in November thanks to our horrible jungle primary system.

Well,  i don't think that many California Democrats will be against such guaranteed choice. Just as most will be satisfied with this year Senate choice.. But in addition it gives a moderate votes some election leverage in this ultrapolarized times. Otherwise they wouldn't (essentially) have any reasonable choice in duel between left loonie Democrat and right crazy Republican...

smoltchanov, what do you think of Newsom?

Likes publicity too much  for my tastes. Otherwise - acceptable)))