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.)

    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:

•     Xavier Becerra (D)
•     Chad Bianco (R)
•     Steve Hilton (R)
•     Matt Mahan (D)
•     Katie Porter (D)
•     Tom Steyer (D)
•     Antonio Villaraigosa (D)

    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.

    Just as with the 2024 senatorial primary, the Democrat leadership trusts that if the general election is between a Democrat and a Republican, the Democrat will prevail. (How fast can you say, “Governor Becerra” or “Governor Steyer” ) That’s why Democrats in this deep blue state want to run against the Republican they believe would be easiest to beat in a general election.

    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.

    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.

    Some Republicans disagree with this analysis, pointing to the surge of Democrat support for Republican Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral race as a reason for optimism. However, Pratt is running against an unpopular incumbent. Many Angelenos blame Mayor Karen Bass for the city’s steep decline in the last four years and her failure to prepare for the disastrous 2025 wildfires, where 16,000+ homes and businesses were burned to the ground. To date, only a handful of permits for rebuilding have been issued.

    Plus, Angelenos see increased crime, shoplifting everywhere, and homeless tents on many streets. These Democrats are voting against incumbent Mayor Bass, not against the Democrat party.

    To those who believe California deserves its toxic Democrat leaders, please note that there are a lot of Republicans who remain here for a variety of reasons (jobs, family, weather). We are a minority that shrinks with every U-Haul rental, but we are still desperately trying to save our state.

    What Hilton and Bianco supporters should be doing is encouraging all Republicans to vote, instead of attacking each other. We need Republican turnout, as approximately 65 percent of California Republicans routinely do not vote in primaries!

    Should only one or neither Republican candidate make it to the general election, anger and disgust should be directed at the lazy 65 percent of Republicans who probably complain the loudest but don’t bother to vote.

    There’s still time! We can save California with a “Republican turnout for a Democrat lockout!”

    Robin M. Itzler is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She is the founder and editor of Patriot Neighbors, a free weekly national newsletter. Robin can be reached at RobinItzler@yahoo.com.