California Democrats panic as two Republicans lead governor polls in deep blue state | 21 Feb 2026 | California Democrats are reportedly panicking over the possibility that the state’s jungle primary system could send two Republicans to the November ballot, a scenario Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told Fox News Digital is the result of “decades of complete Democrat failure.” The New York Post reported that Democratic lawmakers are privately warning a crowded and “uninspiring” field of candidates could split the vote in California’s top-two primary system, allowing Republicans to advance to the two-person runoff in a state long dominated by Democrats. Under California’s system, only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election. Polling cited by the Post shows former Fox News host Steve Hilton leading with 17% support, followed by Bianco at 14%.