California primary sends Newsom, Republican Brian Dahle to November governor’s race
Gov. Gavin Newsom took a large step toward reelection Tuesday after crushing a crowded field of scarcely known challengers in California’s
statewide primary, and will face off against a conservative Northern California Republican, state Sen. Brian Dahle.
The Associated Press projected that the 55-year-old Democratic governor will easily move to the Nov.
8 election and a two-person race where he will be heavily favored over Dahle, 56.
Newsom’s dominance comes almost nine months after he easily swatted down a Republican-led recall attempt.
The one-two punch showed just how formidable he remains in California politics even after a first term in which he
was tested by the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, six of the largest wildfires in state history and an ever-worsening homelessness crisis.
Newsom decided to forgo a traditional election-night party, choosing instead to respond to news of his victory on Twitter, the virtual bulletin board of modern politics.
“Across the country, Republicans are attacking our fundamental rights as Americans. Destroying democracy, stripping a woman of the right to choose,
and standing idly by as gun violence claims far too many lives,” the governor said.