California Gov. Gavin Newsom won't endorse a candidate in the high-profile race to replace him, but said he's "absolutely confident" that a Democrat will win.
Newsom told reporters Thursday that he's throwing his support behind the Democrat who wins the June runoff and declined to name any favorites.
"There are a lot of outstanding candidates with extraordinary records," Newsom said, adding that it's up to voters to decide.
Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire businessman Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra are the top four Democrats running for governor.
“I respect their willingness to put themselves out, and I’m looking forward to where the voters ultimately land," Newsom said.
Newsom's comment came after the six leading candidates participated in a televised debate on Wednesday night in San Francisco to field questions about pressing issues such as rising gas prices and housing affordability.
Trump-backed conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco remain the top Republicans in the race.
Democrats have feared that having such a crowded field of candidates ahead of the primary would push them out of the contest entirely. Without a single and dominant frontrunner, it's possible that the Democrats divide their vote so much that two Republicans advance from the June primary to the general election.
By comparison, both Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown easily won their elections.
The unique predicament has even experts wondering how Democrats can reassert their dominance in the historically blue state.
“I have no idea and anybody who tells you they do, they don’t know either,” according to Democratic consultant Dan Newman, who is not involved in the race.
The governor's race was recently upended when the frontrunner, former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) dropped his bid for governor in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, making Steyer the top candidate.
After Swalwell exited the race, former state Controller Betty Yee announced on Monday that she was suspending her own gubernatorial campaign, with only six weeks until the June primary.
Republicans have used the recent developments in the race to show that the Democrats lack unity and an opportunity to advance from the June 2 primary runoff.
The state operates on a "jungle primary" system, meaning the top two vote-getters in the June election will advance to the November election, regardless of party affiliation.