Why Democrats are panicking about losing California
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2026
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s the world’s fourth largest economy, with over 40 million people and home to some of the world’s most powerful tech companies. So why aren’t the Democratic party’s biggest names queuing up for a chance to run California?
Voting has started in a primary to decide who will run to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Democrats have been scrambling after its frontrunner, Rep Eric Swalwell dropped out following allegations of sexual misconduct, and without a blockbuster candidate such as Kamala Harris, Democrat voters have been left navigating a crowded, unsettled field of candidates.
In this episode, Sarah, Anthony and Justin discuss why California is problematic to govern and assess the risk for Democrats possibly losing the state. Also, who is the British-born Republican endorsed by Trump and does he have a real chance of making it to the November election?
We also hear from Democrat Californian royalty, Christine Pelosi, long time Democrat strategist who is now running as a Californian State Senate candidate, and of course daughter to Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the House of Representatives.
Presenter: Sarah Smith, North America editor, Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter and Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:06.0 | The governor of California is in charge of the world's fourth largest economy. |
| 0:10.0 | That's what California would be if it were a separate country. |
| 0:13.1 | 40 million people live there. |
| 0:14.7 | It's got, of course, some of the world's most powerful tech companies as well. |
| 0:17.7 | And that job, the governor's job, up for grabs in November, when Californians will |
| 0:22.0 | decide on their next governor. The winner will become a household name in American politics. |
| 0:27.9 | May well one day want to be president as a result of being a household name. But with a lot of |
| 0:32.9 | Californians unhappy and big-named Democrats ruling themselves out of the race, could the party seriously |
| 0:38.8 | lose control of the state? Are the Republicans, as they were back in the days of Schwarzenegger |
| 0:45.5 | and further back in the days of Ronald Reagan, are they about to get the governor's mansion |
| 0:50.5 | in their grip again? Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 1:02.9 | AmeriCast from BBC News. You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, |
| 1:07.9 | it reminds me of money. We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. This is a big cover up, and this administration is engaged in it. |
| 1:12.1 | This guy has Trump arrangement syndrome. |
| 1:14.3 | I have four words for you. |
| 1:17.6 | Turn the volume up. |
| 1:23.1 | Hello, Justin, in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England. |
| 1:27.0 | It's Sarah here in the BBC's Washington Bureau. And it's Anthony, along with Sarah, right Justin in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England. It's Sarah here in the BBC's Washington Bureau. |
| 1:29.3 | And it's Anthony, along with Sarah, right here in Washington, D.C. |
| 1:32.4 | And we are going to be joined by California royalty today. |
| 1:36.6 | Christine Pelosi is going to join us. |
... |
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