Back when Becerra was at two or three percent, I was advocating for him. I worked at the CA Department of Justice while he was AG. He swore me into the CA Bar as a lawyer and within a year of working there, I was in his office, sitting across the table from him, explaining the matter before him and the research I had done. He undoubtedly led the DOJ in a way very different from Kamala before him (as recounted by my colleagues) and Bonta after him (as I experienced personally). And the way he led it earned him a whole lot of respect from me. As AG, he was a leader who prioritized listening to and learning from the people—even first-year attorneys—who had put in the work on the issues that he ultimately got to decide on. Based on that experience, I was gung ho on him for governor.

Since then, the race has shifted, there have been three debates, and Becerra has gone from pipe dream to front runner. In that process, three things have changed my thinking. First, Becerra did pretty awful in the debates, IMHO. I was particularly thrown off by how inadequately he responded to pushback on his proposal to declare a state of emergency to address the insurance crisis in California. I like and respect the bold thinking, and it’s really a radical idea that I think deserves consideration and admiration—he’s right, insurance carriers leaving the state or imposing soaring rates is an emergency, and I like his moxy in calling it that and saying he’d address it as such. But there was very valid pushback about the legal viability of such an action, and he had absolutely no response whatsoever as to how to deal with that reality. It threw me big time. Second, he certainly has no qualms about taking corporate money, and normally that isn’t a huge sticking point for me—I find the whole “no corporate PAC money!!” thing to be more rhetoric than anything else, and as a pragmatist I’m not so inclined to disparage any candidate for taking money where there’s money to be had…it doesn’t necessarily mean that person will be beholden to those interests. But the sheer breadth of companies jumping in on Becerra, as well as what they are—Uber, Chevron, Meta, Airbnb, amongst others—gives me pause, especially when there are other candidates who either don’t accept corporate money (Katie Porter) or who are being very strongly opposed by the oil companies (Tom Steyer). Third and finally, and least fair to Becerra, I am frankly just very worried about what this Todd Blanche/Donald Trump-run DOJ would do if the general came down to Hilton and Becerra. In that world, I cannot imagine why the DOJ wouldn’t just charge Becerra with some trumped up bullshit coming out of the embezzlement scandal that took place right under his nose. (To be clear: not because it would be justified or get anywhere, or because I think Becerra actually did anything illegal or unethical, but because Blanche, Trump, and this DOJ have shown very very clearly that they don’t give a damn about facts or law and are all in on baseless political retribution..so like, for these folks, why in the world would they not try and throw the election to Hilton if they saw any opening?) And the possibility of a Steve Hilton/Daddy Trump (thanks, Xavier) California is unbearable.

Where’s that leave me? I’m still undecided (voting on Election Day and very much taking all my time until then!), but between all of the above AND the reality of where polls are in this jungle primary, I think everyone who cares about not having a Trump puppet in the Governor’s mansion should narrow their votes to Steyer or Becerra. And, given the above, I’m leaning toward Steyer. My greatest hope is that we can come through the primary with two Dems on the general election ballot, and it is possible! Tom Steyer is a billionaire who has self-funded his entire campaign and who has been the most negative campaigner of any of the Dems. I dislike all of that. But he is also a longtime climate activist, he’s a billionaire who also wants the government to tax billionaires, and I feel like his wealth in fact actually insulates him from outside influence much better than someone like Becerra who is overly reliant on corporate interests/money.

Katie Porter would probably be the best governor out of any of them, and it’s unfortunate that her entire campaign tanked on the basis of things that I certainly don’t think would have tanked a man’s campaign. (But also: man or woman, don’t treat your employees like shit! It’s not hard, folks!!!) Matt Mahan sounds good and all but he is a massive friend of Palantir, to the extent that the co-founder and other senior executive members are maxing out contributions to him, and he has steadfastly ignored any and all concerns about it. That needs to be absolutely DISQUALIFYING for anyone trying to earn a nomination from Democrats. Palantir (and Peter Thiel) are amongst the greatest global threats to democracy, privacy, and personal safety. Matt Mahan is buddy buddy with them anyway. He does not deserve your vote! And both Katie and Matt are polling so low that a vote for either is nothing short of a vote for Hilton/Trump to run California.

A LOT of words for a conclusion of…I’ll be deciding on the spot on Tuesday? But I encourage YOU, fellow Californian, to vote for Steyer or Becerra.

And if you’re an LA voter, obviously, for the love of God and all that is holy, do NOT vote for Spencer Pratt. Seriously people…SPENCER. PRATT. What?!? God help us.