One week before the June 2nd California primary, we brought in five guests across the political spectrum to break down every race that matters.
The governor's race is in chaos. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress in April — his name is still on the ballot — and Democrats are splitting their vote five ways while Republicans have largely consolidated behind two candidates. There's a real scenario where no Democrat makes it to November. We get into the lockout math, where every candidate stands with seven days to go, and what a Republican on the November ballot would mean for California.
Then we go down-ballot to the races most Californians are sleeping on — starting with the insurance commissioner, a wide-open seat that could affect your home insurance rates more than any governor ever will. With Ricardo Lara term-limited and the wildfire insurance crisis still unresolved, this race has real stakes. We also cover the attorney general contest and the congressional seats that could determine the House majority.
And we close with the bigger question: what does it say about California that the party holding unified control of state government for over a decade couldn't produce a frontrunner — and is now genuinely nervous about being locked out of its own governor's race?
Joining Phil and Camille tonight: Kyle Campbell from Politically Basic, Susan Collins, and Tess Abraham from California Conversation.
California Underground covers California politics straight — no tribal framing, no spin. Just the story, the numbers, and why it matters to the people actually living here.
New episodes every Tuesday at 8PM PST on YouTube.
📬 Subscribe on Substack: https://caunderground.substack.com/🌐 The Gilded State: www.thegildedstate.com