Another Democrat is exiting the crowded contest for California governor.
Betty Yee – a former state controller – announced on Monday she was suspending her campaign, just over a week after fellow Democrat and former US congressman Eric Swalwell left the race following sexual assault allegations that he denies.
Yee, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, was vying to be the first woman to hold the state’s highest office.
But she lagged in fundraising and failed to break into the leading tier of candidates in polling since entering the contest in 2024. In a fluid race that many voters have ignored, she tried to pitch herself as a candidate “who focuses on solutions rather than sound bites” or a level-headed “boring Betty”.
None of it worked. And lacking funds for advertising – California has some of the most expensive media markets in the nation – there would be no way for her campaign to connect with voters across the vast state.
“It was becoming clear that the donors were not going to be there. Even some of my former supporters just felt like they needed to move on,” Yee said in an online news conference disclosing her decision.
