Former California State Controller Betty Yee has ended her bid for governor, announcing Monday that she’s stepping out of the 2026 race after struggling to gain traction with both voters and donors.
Yee, a Democrat, had been one of several candidates seeking to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom in what has become a crowded and unpredictable contest. Despite the size of the field, no candidate has clearly emerged as a dominant front-runner.
Speaking during a virtual press conference, Yee said her campaign faced a tough reality as fundraising lagged and polling numbers remained low.
“The idea that voters are prioritizing experience and competence just hasn’t really played out,” she said. “That’s what I built my campaign on, but without the resources to stay competitive, it’s hard to see a path forward.”
Yee, who served two terms as state controller, said she plans to take some time before deciding whether to endorse another candidate.
Her departure comes shortly after another major shake-up in the race. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, once considered a leading Democratic contender, exited the contest earlier this month following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell, who has denied wrongdoing, is also facing multiple investigations and resigned from Congress soon after the accusations surfaced.
Throughout her campaign, Yee leaned into her reputation as a steady, no-nonsense public servant — even embracing the nickname “Boring Betty.” In a recent post on X, she framed that approach as a strength, writing that California needs “calm, cool, collected change” rather than political drama.
Still, her campaign struggled to keep pace financially in a state known for its costly media markets. Campaign filings show Yee raised just under $583,000 in 2025, far behind some of her rivals.
Although she has won statewide office multiple times — including seats on the Board of Equalization and as controller — Yee never gained broad name recognition among voters. She consistently polled in the single digits.
Even with her withdrawal, Yee’s name will remain on the June primary ballot. Earlier this year, she declined calls from state Democratic Party leaders to reconsider her candidacy amid concerns that a divided Democratic field could open the door for two Republicans to advance under California’s top-two primary system.
Under that system, the two candidates with the most votes in the June 2 primary move on to the general election, regardless of party. While Democrats dominate statewide voter registration, a fractured vote could, in theory, shift the outcome.
Yee dismissed that possibility as unlikely.
“Could it happen? Maybe. But realistically, this is California,” she said, adding that she believes the top-two system should ultimately be eliminated.
Despite her campaign’s challenges, Yee maintained strong support among party activists and previously served as vice chair of the state Democratic Party. At the party’s February convention, she placed second in delegate support with 17%, though no candidate secured the endorsement.
Voting in the gubernatorial primary is set for June 2, with mail-in ballots expected to begin going out in the coming weeks.
