California governor’s race remains wide open ahead of Tuesday debate

California voters are signaling a blunt demand that cuts past party labels: they want relief from a cost of living many now call unmanageable, and they want a governor who can show sound judgment while defending a state that feels out of reach. In CBS News’ latest poll, “values” and “judgment” ranked as the most desirable traits in a candidate, a sign that primary voters are weighing character and competence as much as ideology.

The numbers show a race that is still fluid. CBS reporting says undecided voters outnumber the support of any single candidate, leaving the contest wide open as the campaign heads into the next phase. Democrats in the poll want someone at least somewhat similar to Gov. Gavin Newsom and overwhelmingly prefer a candidate willing to oppose President Trump. Republicans, by contrast, are asking for more “change” and describing California in far bleaker terms.

That gap matters because the state’s core economic anxieties are driving the race. CBS says gas prices in California are the highest in the nation and are projected to rise as oil refineries leave the state. The housing shortage continues to push families out and make homeownership harder to reach, reinforcing the sense that the California Dream is slipping away. Those conditions are shaping the debate over who can actually govern, not just who can win a primary.

The field has already begun to shift under that pressure. Betty Yee suspended her campaign on April 20, saying internal polling showed “experience and competence” was not polling as highly as she expected. Eric Swalwell also dropped out in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. After Swalwell’s exit, Xavier Becerra rose to 10% in an Emerson College poll, a seven-point jump since March.

The contest is playing out under California’s top-two open primary system, in which all candidates appear on one ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party. The Secretary of State has certified 61 names for the June 2 primary ballot, and all active registered voters will receive a ballot. County elections officials begin mailing ballots on May 4, secure drop-off locations open May 5, and the registration deadline is May 18.

CBS News California Investigates has also tried to press the field on substance, building a candidate guide from more than 20 hours of accountability interviews with top-polling candidates. The issues under scrutiny include gas prices, housing affordability, the insurance crisis, high-speed rail, sanctuary state law, redistricting and democracy, transgender athletes, and homelessness. With the California Republican Party having held its convention without an endorsement, and with party leaders warning that a crowded field could split the vote, the final month is shaping up as a test of whether any candidate can match voter frustration with a credible governing case.