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.

The post Former state Controller Betty Yee drops out of the governor’s race appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Her comments come as California legislation becomes a central focus in the national debate on the participation of transgender athletes in sports and elucidate her stance on one of the few issues currently dividing the state’s Democrats.

During a recent appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Yee said, “I think transgender athletes are women athletes and they should be able to compete.”

Yee, who served as California state controller from 2015 to 2023, told Morgan that transgender female athletes have gone through a physical transition and should be able to participate in women’s sports. However, she added that “there is still some discussion about whether they should compete in the same field” and that more research is needed on the physiology of transgender athletes.

Her view differs from that of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports “deeply unfair” and warned that it was hurting Democrats at the polls during a March episode of his podcast featuring conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Newsom’s comments garnered backlash from some party members, who accused the governor of abandoning a vulnerable minority group for political gain.

When Morgan asked Yee if there should be a gender-neutral 2028 L.A. Olympics where everyone competes in the same category, she said, “I think it’s a conversation worth having.”

“If the physicality of the sexes bear true to that [gender neutrality], including with transgender people, yes, it [the Olympics] should be gender neutral,” she said. “I don’t think we know enough.”

Yee suggested that there are some sporting events where all athletes can compete on a level playing field. When asked to name one, she suggested short-distance track and field events such as the 100-meter sprint — a notion Morgan decried as “insane.”

The Olympic record time among male athletes for the 100-meter dash is 9.63 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2012, while the women’s Olympic record is 10.61 seconds, set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021.

Yee said she was not a sports expert but emphasized her overall stance that all athletes, including transgender athletes, should have an equal opportunity to participate.

“I think there’s a lot of information we need to learn about what’s really happening with the ability of trans athletes to compete, but my statement is about being able to be sure that they can compete,” she said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton appeared on Morgan’s show after Yee and called her comments jaw dropping.

“I think we may just have seen another California Democrat candidate torpedo their campaign for governor,” he said, referencing the criticism former Rep. Katie Porter has received over recordings of combative and rude comments to a journalist and a staff member.

Hilton said that as governor he would overturn AB 1266. This law took effect in 2014 and requires that California schools allow students to participate in sporting activities consistent with their gender identities, regardless of the gender listed on their record.

“This is obviously discrimination against girls,” said Hilton. “I’m confident that, as governor, I can actually overturn that law and bring some sanity back to this whole situation.”

In July, the Trump administration sued California for allowing transgender athletes to compete on school sports teams that match their gender identity, alleging that this violates a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in schools by allowing biological males to compete against biological females.

This week, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 749, which creates a commission to examine whether a new state board or department is needed to improve access to youth sports regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income or geographic location.

The bill was decried by some Republican legislators as an attempt to create a body that will advocate for the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

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