No Consensus From Labor Unions On Gubernatorial Candidates | KQED

"With less than five months until California 's primary election for governor, no candidate has emerged as the consensus choice of the most powerful force in state Democratic politics: organized labor. Attorney General Rob Bonta, a longtime labor ally, announced last week he would not run for governor, despite behind-the-scenes encouragement from many in the state's labor movement. His decision increased the likelihood that no single candidate will be able to consolidate labor support, even as a handful of unions have already made early endorsements."

"" This is probably the least clear, most muddled gubernatorial primary field we've seen in California in more than half a century," said Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC and UC Berkeley. "There are several candidates with solid labor credentials, but no one who stands out to a point where you see unions flocking to them the way you have in most past campaigns.""

"Unions remain the lifeblood of Democratic campaigns in the state, Schnur said. The groups bankroll independent political committees that typically spend tens of millions of dollars on television ads and mailers, and their network of members provides favored candidates with a ready-made field operation to knock on doors and make phone calls. Not since 1990, when Dianne Feinstein defeated John Van de Kamp in the Democratic primary, has labor's chosen candidate for governor in California failed to make the general election."

With less than five months until California's primary election for governor, no single candidate has secured organized labor's consensus endorsement. Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso announced they will not run, and Bonta's decision reduced the chance of a consolidated labor pick even as some unions have made early endorsements. Observers call the field unusually muddled, with several candidates possessing labor credentials but none commanding overwhelming union support. Unions continue to fund independent committees, spend tens of millions on ads and mailers, and supply field operations that have historically helped labor-backed candidates reach general elections.

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