Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will face Republican John Cox in California’s gubernatorial race this fall, likely assuring Newsom’s victory.
Newsom led the large field of candidates securing the most votes in the state’s top-two primary. Cox edged out former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, for the second spot. No Republican has been elected statewide since 2006, and President Trump’s support of Cox will likely hurt him more than help him.
Newsom boosted Cox’s profile in a final push to beat back Villaraigosa, who Newsom saw as a greater threat.
There’s concern among Democrats that having Cox on the ballot could boost Republican turnout and hurt Democrats’ chances of flipping key House seats. Republicans are trying to fend off Democratic challenges in seats that went for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
[Related: House Republicans’ plan to entice Trump voters to the polls]
Still, election experts in the state see the GOP’s alignment with Trump as a strategy that will fail them in the long run.
“The embrace of Trumpism is not a growth strategy for the Republican party, it’s an attempt to hold on to the party base,” said Thad Kousser, a political scientist at the University of California at San Diego.
Newsom is the favorite to succeed retiring Gov. Jerry Brown. In California’s “jungle” primary, all candidates compete on one ballot, regardless of party affiliation. The top two advance to the general election.
