Newsom: Democrats Have “Break-The-Glass Scenario” If Two Republicans Win California Governor’s Primary
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Democrats have a “break the glass scenario” for what to do if two Republicans come out of the state’s “jungle primary” for governor and advance to the general election, during a budget press conference on Thursday. “You’ve spoken about accountability,” a reporter asked. “Do you think Democrats will hold you accountable for standing by this principled neutrality, by withholding your endorsement in this not-impossible scenario where two Republicans take the ticket?” “My focus has been making sure that doesn’t happen,” Newsom said. “I do not see that scenario taking place. I see a lot of good Democrats I’ve worked with for years and years and years on the ballot making their case.” “But there is a ‘break-the-glass’ scenario, and there’s many people that have a deep understanding of what it would look like if Democrats were locked out. And we’re going to do everything to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll leave it at that,” the governor said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has a secret break the glass plan to prevent California from electing a Republican governor – though he’s stubbornly refused to make an endorsement in the race to succeed him.https://t.co/01rk8j2oed pic.twitter.com/Ol7b7v4o2x
– California Post (@californiapost) May 16, 2026
REPORTER: In this governor’s race, would you agree that an endorsement of a Democrat- GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM: Oh, look at you. I take my guard down, and then you try to get me to answer the question I refuse to answer. REPORTER: Would you agree that this represents one of those moments where you could still change a small portion of- GAVIN NEWSOM: Did you have ChatGPT do that question for you? It’s very sophisticated. REPORTER: But you’ve spoken about accountability. Do you think Democrats will hold you accountable for standing by this principled neutrality, by withholding your endorsement in this not-impossible scenario where two Republicans take the ticket? GAVIN NEWSOM: Yeah, look, my focus has been making sure that doesn’t happen. And I’ve exercised not just a focus, but I’ve exercised, through some action, efforts to encourage that doesn’t happen by making my case, and will continue to make my case. I do not see that scenario taking place. I see a lot of good Democrats I’ve worked with for years and years and years on the ballot making their case. I was in a similar position with a similar stubborn governor that refused to get involved. I developed tremendous animus towards him, and now I offer forgiveness. No, we don’t dream regretting. We all have agency. We can shape the future. There’s still a lot of- Look, I’ve said this before, so I’ll repeat it. I don’t anticipate this needs to be the case, but there is a break-the-glass scenario, and there’s many people that have a deep understanding of what it would look like if Democrats were locked out. And we’re going to do everything to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll leave it at that.
