Betty Yee Drops Out Of California Governor Race As Field Shifts

Former California State Controller Betty Yee has withdrawn from the state’s gubernatorial race, citing weak polling and a lack of a viable path forward.

The Democrat announced Monday that internal polling conducted by party-aligned groups showed her campaign struggling to gain traction, particularly in areas she expected to perform strongly.

Yee said the data revealed that “experience and competence was not polling as high” as anticipated, describing the current political environment as one driven more by spectacle than substance.

“We are in this new era where it’s kind of almost a reality TV show mentality,” she said, adding that attention-grabbing conflict often outweighs traditional qualifications in today’s campaigns.

Her exit comes as the race has already been shaken by the collapse of Eric Swalwell’s campaign, which was suspended earlier this month amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Yee acknowledged that Democratic leaders had been urging lower-polling candidates to step aside to avoid splitting the vote, a dynamic that could benefit Republican contenders in California’s top-two primary system.

Recent polling shows a tightly packed field. Trump-backed candidate Steve Hilton leads with 20%, followed by Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer tied at 15%.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Rep. Katie Porter trail closely behind, both within striking distance of advancing to a runoff.

Yee maintained that her campaign had value despite the outcome, saying her commitment to public service would continue beyond the race.

Her departure adds another layer of volatility to an already fluid contest, as Democratic figures and political networks begin to consolidate support around candidates seen as more competitive in the evolving field.