The California governor's race is being out of control, raising concerns for the Democratic Party ahead of mail-in voting. The race for governor is being defined as a period of uncertainty, not inevitability, as both former Gov. Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom have both won their elections. The contest has been marked by personal disputes over debate eligibility, identity politics, and 2025 ballot counting. Democrats fear that a vacancy at the top of the top could potentially impact their chances in the crucial U.S. House races. The party holds every statewide office in California, dominates the legislature and outnumbers registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1. A major televised debate was canceled after controversy over the selection criteria, which resulted in six white candidates qualifying for the stage while Black, Latino and Asian candidates were not invited.