California's Democrats are facing internal tensions amid a crowded race to replace Governor Newsom, following a controversial letter from the party's president.

California's democracy shows signs of division as the competition to replace Governor Gavin Newsom becomes increasingly crowded ahead of the June primaries. The President of the California Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks, published an open letter urging candidates to withdraw from the race if they do not have a viable path to the general election. This letter sparked criticism, particularly from Tony Thurmond, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who argued that the message disproportionately targets candidates of color. Hicks dismissed these accusations, emphasizing that he did not name any specific candidate. Meanwhile, other candidates, such as Ian Calderon, have stated that they do not intend to withdraw. Tensions are rising amid polls showing a tight race, with the risk of the Democratic vote fragmenting, allowing two Republicans to advance to the general election. In a recent poll, Steve Hilton led with 14% of the votes, followed by Katie Porter with 13%. Despite the pressures, several Democratic candidates continue to run their campaigns, and Thurmond and Betty Yee have filed paperwork to run.