California’s Democratic Party now confronts an unprecedented political emergency—one that has never threatened the state’s electoral future since its founding. With Rep. Eric Swalwell’s sudden exit from the governor’s race last week following multiple sexual assault allegations, the party stands at a precipice where it could be completely excluded from November’s general election for the first time in over a decade.

The state’s top-two primary system—the mechanism that allows all candidates across parties to compete on June 2—has created an alarming scenario: eight Democrats are fragmented across the ballot while two Republican contenders, Steve Hilton (Trump-endorsed) and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, currently lead polling. Under this framework, both Republicans could claim the top two spots in the primary, eliminating all Democratic candidates from November’s race.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who has long eyed a national political future, is reportedly scrambling to resolve the crisis after Swalwell’s collapse. Multiple sources indicate Newsom has been engaged in “a marathon of calls and meetings” since CNN reported on the situation, struggling to find a viable candidate amid deep reservations about his options. Reports suggest he views Tom Steyer as too volatile on policy execution, Katie Porter as potentially undermining economic growth, Antonio Villaraigosa as a political liability from their 2018 primary clash, Matt Mahan as overly critical of him publicly, and Xavier Becerra’s performance as attorney general as ineffective.

The chaos has intensified as California Democratic Party leaders warn the crowded field risks splitting the vote—allowing Republicans to dominate both primary slots. Sen. Adam Schiff has described such a scenario as “a distinct possibility that none of us can afford to ignore.” Meanwhile, the state faces mounting challenges: over 10 million residents left California between 2010 and 2024, major corporations like Chevron, Tesla, and Oracle have relocated out of state, and only one in three Californians view their state as conducive to achieving the American dream.

With mail-in ballots set to roll out within weeks and the Democratic Party’s deadline for candidates to withdraw by April 15 approaching, unity has evaporated. Pelosi, Schiff, and Padilla are reportedly discussing a unified endorsement campaign—but without consensus, the party risks losing its chance entirely. For the first time in generations, California Democrats are genuinely terrified they might not even be present at November’s polls.