Opinion polls show no front-runner in California gubernatorial race
A new poll shows there is no front-runner in the California gubernatorial race, with several prominent candidates still in close quarters heading into the primary.
A Northern California lawmaker has announced that he will no longer be affiliated with the Republican Party and will choose to run as an independent in the next election.
Rep. Kevin Kiley of California’s 3rd Congressional District made the announcement on social media last week after filing to run for a third term as an “independent” candidate, citing frustration with “hyper-partisanship in Congress.”” and California voters recently made the decision to redraw districts in the upcoming election.
“Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy that Gavin Newsom brought back to California,” Kiley said on X, referring to California’s governor. “But there is a way we can fight back against his partisan gamesmanship and protect our democracy: by removing partisanship from the equation.”
Throughout his past two terms in Washington, the California lawmaker has occasionally strayed from Republican agendas, most recently voting with Democrats to repeal the state of emergency that President Donald Trump used to impose tariffs.
“It’s no secret that I have been frustrated and sometimes disgusted by the growing partisanship in Congress,” Kiley said. “Last year led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, massive increases in health care costs, and, of course, pointless redistricting wars. An epidemic of gerrymandering has spread from Texas to California to states across the country. Both sides are complicit.”
On Monday, Kiley asked the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to officially change his party affiliation from Republican to independent, but confirmed to CNN that he intends to continue caucusing with Republicans.
“In terms of how I approach my role here, I’m an independent, and as I have been throughout my time here, I intend to be an independent voice fighting for my district,” he told CNN.
Impact of Prop 50 Rep. Kevin Kiley
Kiley was one of five Republicans whose districts were split as part of Proposition 50.It would temporarily redraw California’s congressional maps to improve the chances of winning more Democratic seats and counter a similar move favoring Republican-leaning districts in Texas.
Before this proposal was approved by voters, California’s 3rd Congressional District represented most of the state. The region included areas such as Roseville, a major suburb of Sacramento, and Chester, a town north of Lassen Volcanic National Park, to Death Valley National Park in central California.
But as part of the new congressional map, the district was split into several Democratic-leaning districts and one predominantly Republican district, leaving Kiley at a loss within Northern California’s new boundaries.
Kiley originally planned to run for re-election in the newly created 5th Congressional District, which includes rural towns along the Sierra Nevada and areas he considered a “safe” seat in the Republican House.
Instead, Kiley chose to run in a “more challenging race” in California’s newly created 6th Congressional District, a Democratic-leaning area that includes parts of Placer and Sacramento counties.
“I was born, raised, and attended local public schools in Placer and Sacramento counties. I have always called them home. During my election, these counties were the core of my school district,” Kiley said in a March 3 social media post.
“Ultimately, as much as I love the District 5 community that I currently represent, and as excited as I am about my new community, I didn’t feel it was right to seek office in a district that doesn’t include my hometown.”
Kiley believes he can build a “winning coalition” with voters in California’s 6th Congressional District, noting that residents are “Democratic-leaning but open-minded.”
Who is running for California’s 6th Congressional District?
The seat in California’s newly created 6th Congressional District is crowded and competitive, as expected for a district without an incumbent.
There are currently eight candidates on the list for the district: five Democrats, two Republicans, and Kiley is the only independent candidate.
The list includes several heavy hitters, including Kyrie. Especially West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. Tien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney. Richard Pan served in the California State Assembly and Senate from 2012 to 2022.
Here is a list of candidates currently in the race for California’s 6th Congressional District:
- lauren bub tomlinson (D) – Babu Tomlinson currently serves as chief communications officer for family planning advocacy group Mar Monte. She is running for Congress to address the affordability crisis and protect the rights of Americans, according to her campaign website.
- Christine Bish (R) – Bish is a real estate agent and small business owner based in Sacramento. She is running for Congress with the goals of lowering taxes, providing cost-effective education solutions, addressing water quality and flood control, tackling homelessness, abolishing sanctuary cities, and restoring Second Amendment freedoms, according to her campaign website.
- Martha Guerrero (D) – Mr. Guerrero is the mayor of West Sacramento, first elected by residents in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. According to his campaign website, Guerrero is focused on addressing the affordability crisis facing many people, protecting people’s rights, lowering health care costs, tackling homelessness and strengthening the public education system.
- Thien Ho (D) – Ho is the Sacramento County district attorney who played a central role in prosecuting Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo in 2020. His campaign website says he seeks to expand access to health care, lower housing costs, protect working families and defend democracy.
- Kevin Kiley (I) – Kylie is a representative. California 3rd Congressional District. He is running to retain his seat in the California Congressional Caucus, fighting “bipartisanship in Congress.”
- richard pan (D) – Mr. Pan previously served in the California Assembly and Senate from 2012 to 2022, where he spearheaded legislation to reduce California’s uninsured rate. He discusses how the Trump administration has handled the nation’s health care and, by extension, His campaign website says he is “putting Americans at risk.”
- raymond reel (R) – Riehle is a business owner and an active member of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. His campaign website says he aims to cut taxes, defund law enforcement, secure borders and tackle “woke challenges.”
- tyler vandenberg (D) – Vandenberg is a military veteran who wants to address the “chaos” in Washington, according to his campaign website. In addition to tackling housing and health care issues, he plans to “build a safer America” for immigrants, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.
One of the candidates is Republican Craig Dells originally planned to run for the seat, but confirmed to the Sacramento Bee that he paused his campaign in September, citing “family health issues.”S. ”
