I would say it is more that California tilts to the Democrat side by several million, and they would rather have even Newsom than a Republican (or a third party candidate). There were no major Democrats who ran as alternatives to Newsom in the recall election. The best performing Democrat candidate was Kevin Paffrath, a YouTuber.
So far Democrat reception has been luke warm at best. Keep in mind Harris fell flat on her face in the primary during 2020 yet she still managed to make it to the top. At the current temperature, I suspect Newsome will be at the top of the ticket in 2028. Maybe Shapiro if liberals can swallow their antisemitism.
again, piecemeal info/intellectually dishonesty on your part. no major candidates, Dems nor Repugs, were stupid enough to run against Newsom in the recall election. not even the winner of the Breeder's Cup, a bankrupt businessman several times, but a former baseball star, Steve Garvey, who was defeated by Newsom in the most recent election. neither did these two leading GOP candidates for the next Gov of Calif in 2026 only Larry Elder, a self-proclaimed libetarian radio talk host, a wife beater to boot, was stupid enough to run against Newsom in the recall election. at best, Elder was a fringe candidate, so much so that the RNC didn't invite him for the RNC debate for the 2024 presidential election
