On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the California Democratic Party (CADEM) is recalibrating its strategy following a high-stakes endorsing convention in San Francisco that concluded earlier this week. While the party successfully coalesced around a slate of incumbents, the failure to reach a consensus in the high-profile gubernatorial race has left the door open for a potentially fractured primary in June.
The convention, which finalized its ratification on February 22, underscored the party’s “incumbent-first” doctrine, aimed at protecting its influence in the face of shifting federal dynamics and a newly redrawn congressional map under Proposition 50.
The Statewide Strategy: A Divided Field for Governor
The most significant outcome of the weekend was the “No Consensus” result for the Governor’s seat. Despite a weekend of fiery speeches at the Moscone Center, none of the candidates reached the required 60 percent delegate threshold for an official party endorsement.
| Candidate | Delegate Support | Key Takeaway |
| Eric Swalwell | 24.0% | Led the field but remains far from a majority. |
| Betty Yee | 17.3% | Performed better than polling suggests, signaling grassroots strength. |
| Xavier Becerra | 14.1% | Solid third-place finish; relying on statewide executive experience. |
| Tom Steyer | 13.3% | Proved that personal spending has not yet secured delegate loyalty. |
| Katie Porter | 9.3% | A surprising fifth-place finish, raising questions about her lane in the race. |
The Primary Risk: Party leadership expressed concern that without a unified endorsement, the June 2 “jungle primary” could result in two Republicans—currently led in polls by Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco—advancing to the general election, an event that would be a historic “lockout” for California Democrats.
Protecting the Firewall: Incumbent Endorsements
In contrast to the statewide races, the party successfully ratified a Consent Calendar that provides an official endorsement to several key incumbents. This move triggers immediate access to party resources and a unified fundraising apparatus.
Doris Matsui (CD-07): Successfully held off a challenge from Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang to secure the endorsement, a victory attributed in part to a high-profile endorsement from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
Malia Cohen (Controller): One of the few statewide officials to secure a near-unanimous endorsement, placing her in a strong position for re-election.
Sally Lieber (BOE-02): Ratified for the Board of Equalization, signaling the party’s intent to maintain control of fiscal oversight bodies.
Economic & Policy Focus for 2026
The convention platform leaned heavily into “State Sovereignty,” with delegates voting to prioritize:
Immigration Defense: Pledging to keep state resources from assisting in federal mass deportation efforts.
Tech Accountability: A significant shift in tone, with labor leaders warning against “bending the knee” to Silicon Valley executives who have moved toward the GOP.
Redistricting Advantage: Utilizing the maps created by Proposition 50 to aggressively target five Republican-held House seats to help “take back the House” nationally.
