Crunch Time

by Craig Wiesner - San Mateo Daily Journal - May 4, 2026

Primary election ballots are arriving in mailboxes to choose the top two candidates who will go on to compete with each other to become our next governor. The Democratic Party establishment has been rightfully worried that with so many Democrats running, spreading out the overall Democratic vote, and two Republicans seeming to have enough support to potentially end up as the front runners in our current primary system, we might end up with those two Republicans on the November ballot, guaranteeing one of them to be our next governor. I spent some time perusing Republican Steve Hilton’s and Chad Bianco’s backgrounds, policy positions, endorsements, and watched them closely in the first debate. No surprise: I wouldn’t vote for either of them but I encourage folks who are curious to learn more about them. stevehiltonforgovernor.com and biancoforgovernor.com 

So how do those of us who identify as Democrats or independents who lean more progressive try to get at least one of the Democrats on the November ballot? Some say to watch and wait a bit. I say we all do some homework! Soon after former Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race, several people I respect and trust let me know they had landed on their chosen candidates, some opting for Tom Steyer and others for Xavier Becerra. Those were already my top two choices but, like most people, I didn’t know enough about either of them to pick one over the other. So I got to work.

Tom Steyer was born in New York. His father, a partner in a law firm, had served as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Nazi War Crime trials. His mom was a journalist (Newsweek and NBC News) who later taught English in a city jail. Steyer is a billionaire turned environmentalist / philanthropist, one of the largest donors to Democratic candidates and causes since leaving the hedge fund he founded. A friend recently attended a house party where he spoke and she was impressed. The biggest negative I’d read about him was that back in his hedge fund days he’d invested in private prisons, including ones used for immigrant detention. Asked at the house party about that, Steyer quickly said it was a mistake and he regretted it. Wow. A politician simply admitting to a mistake and having regrets? Alert the media! He also sold that investment off. Fast forward to today and I agree with many of the policy positions he has taken and applaud the work he has done for progressive causes. Steyer has never been elected to a government position, and has quite a dramatic flare about him, things some voters find appealing.You can read more about him on his campaign website (tomsteyer.com) or at WikiPedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Steyer). 

Xavier Becerra was born and raised in Sacramento as the son of Mexican immigrants, working class parents who, like my folks, never went to college but who, Becerra says, worked hard to raise their family of four kids, bought a home, and were able to retire in dignity. Recognizing that what many call the American Dream has become out of reach, especially in California, a key area of focus for Becerra is the affordability crisis, calling this a “glass-breaking moment.” 

Becerra has spent much of his lifetime in government service which I find appealing but recognize that others don’t, preferring outsiders to “shake things up.” Having watched the president shake things up during his first and now second term, I prefer someone with lots of government experience and a respect for history and public service. 

Becerra served as California deputy attorney general, as an assemblymember, a U.S. representative (1993-2017), California attorney general (2017-2021) and served as secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. That’s a lot of experience in many different roles which I feel gives him a great edge in being able to jump into the Governor’s office with both feet on day one. He is more soft-spoken and, dare I say, humble than Tom Steyer, characteristics which I appreciate. I encourage folks to learn more about him either on his campaign website (xavierbecerra2026.com) or at WikiPedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Becerra

Based on my research, having watched the first debate, and listening to people I admire and trust, I’d be happy for Steyer, Becerra or both to win this primary. I’ll be voting for Becerra. No matter what, Republican, Democrat or Independent, please make sure you vote. If mailing your ballot, given new postal service rules, please mail it a few days early or request a postmark in person at a post office. It must be postmarked on or before election day to count.

Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos. Follow Craig: craigwiesner.bsky.social.