Jon Stewart warns Democrats their selfish behavior is about to hand America’s bluest state to the GOP
Jon Stewart decried the Democratic Party for purported selfishness this week during an interview with one of the top candidates for California governor.
Stewart outright told San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan that the sheer amount of Democrats like him vying for the position could ultimately hamper their party’s chances in the race on Monday’s Daily Show.
That’s because Californians will be forced to decide between eight Democrats and two Republicans due to the state’s unique non-partisan primary system, he explained.
‘It’s a great plan – and it so smacks of the Democratic Party to split the vote into such fractious fiefdoms that the only two people standing are the two Republicans,’ an exasperated Stewart said.
‘So smart, so typical,’ he added through a stifled laugh.
Mahan – one of the competing Democrats – joked that he ‘jumped in’ because ‘undecided is still in first place.’
The crack appeared to befuddle Stewart, who asked, ‘Why do you want to be Governor of California? It is a disaster waiting to happen.’
An oblivious Mahan, 43, said he was satisfied with his three years as San Jose’s mayor, before touting a series of talking points often championed by conservatives.
Jon Stewart warned that too many Democrats vying for the post of California’s governor could harm the party’s chances in the race on Monday
The host had been welcoming one of several progressives fighting for the spot, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, to his show Monday when he made the remarks
‘We’ve reduced homelessness by about a third by building basic, dignified shelter, improving outreach, doing more prevention,’ Mahan said.
‘We’ve hired police officers from our community, done a lot of community policing, and started to tackle quality of life, crime.’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a two-term Democrat widely seen as a frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has struggled on both of those fronts.
He has yet to announce any plans as to what will follow his final year of governor.
Newsom previously served as the state’s lieutenant governor, under two-time, two-term Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown succeeded the state’s last Republican governor, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 2011.
Prior to that, California last elected a conservative as governor in 1990.
Earlier this month, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks warned that such a possibility was steadily increasing. In a March 3 open letter to candidates like Mahan, Hicks told candidates to ‘honestly assess’ their chances of winning.
‘California’s leadership on the world stage is significantly harder if a Democrat is not elected as our next Governor,’ Hicks wrote at the time. Only one Democrat went on to resign.
Mahan is looking to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a two-term Democrat who has struggled with issues like homelessness and crime
Progressives framed as frontrunners include Rep. Eric Swalwell and billionaire activist Tom Steyer.
Former Fox News host Steve Hilton and ex-Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco are the two conservatives who have declared candidacy.
Hilton received support from 19 percent of likely voters, according to a poll released Wednesday from the UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research – a number that would make him a surprise favorite.
Meanwhile, the June primary is rapidly approaching, paving the way for a fierce contest where the last two candidates do not necessarily need to be Democrats.
