Democratic candidates rally voters as CA governor's race enters final stretch ahead of primary

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- With Tuesday's primary quickly approaching, candidates for California governor are making a final push across the Bay Area and the state, rallying supporters and urging voters to head to the polls.

Supporters of former California Attorney General and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra gathered Saturday at Manny's in San Francisco, where the Democratic frontrunner struck an optimistic tone.

"At the end of the day, we're going to win, because we did it with family," Becerra told a cheering crowd.

Recent polling shows Becerra leading the field, though he remains cautious about the final outcome.

"I treat every race like an underdog-I've had to treat my life like an underdog," he said when asked whether the polling numbers gave him confidence.

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Meanwhile, billionaire Tom Steyer held a get-out-the-vote rally in downtown San Francisco, emphasizing his independence from corporate donors.

Steyer has invested more than $216 million of his personal fortune into his campaign, aiming to secure a spot in November's runoff under California's top-two primary system.

"The only people I'm working for are working Californians," Steyer said. "I don't have any conflicts; I'm not taking money from Chevron, Uber, or PG&E."

Other candidates are also making their closing arguments to voters across the state.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan campaigned in Los Angeles, positioning himself as a pragmatic alternative within the Democratic Party.

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"A vote for me is a vote for the common-sense, pragmatic change the California Democratic Party needs," Mahan said.

Congresswoman Katie Porter campaigned in Orange County, focusing her message on lowering costs for Californians.

"I have concrete plans to bring down costs, like eliminating taxes for Californians earning less than $100,000," Porter said.

Despite energized crowds at campaign events, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown predicts turnout may lag on Election Day.

"Simply because there are so many people on the ballot -- and none are superstars," Brown said. "You don't have a Newsom or a Jerry Brown on the ballot."

With just days remaining, candidates are intensifying their efforts to connect with voters as the race heads into its final stretch before Tuesday's primary election.

Voters and non-voters give thoughts on race

As some voters cast early ballots on Sunday, others remain undecided or disengaged.

In this primary, no candidate will be elected governor. Instead, the top two finishers will advance to the general election in November.

On Sunday, early voters dropped off ballots outside San Francisco City Hall, some expressing enthusiasm ahead of Tuesday's election.

"I got it. I voted thank you so much!" said one man.

For many, participation reflects a desire to shape local and state outcomes.

"I just want to make sure that I have influence in what's going on in my local and state elections," said one voter.

"Now we're very confident that we can vote for somebody we want to vote for," said Bay Area voter Jeremy Paul.

Still, not everyone plans to take part. Several people in San Francisco on Sunday said they have no intention of voting in the primary.

"I care but I don't plan on voting," said Solomon Tekeba. "Not a lot of solid options. I don't want to have any of that on my conscience."

When asked whether a standout candidate would change his mind, Tekeba said, "Yeah, but nobody really stood out."

Others acknowledged the election but said it is not a priority.

"It's not top of my priority list. I think it's, um you know November is when it will be more important to me," said Shyam Toprani of the Bay Area.

Primary elections in non-presidential years often see lower turnout, even in high-profile races like California's governor's contest. The top two system adds another layer of focus, as only the leading candidates will move on to the general election.

Some voters described difficulty choosing among candidates.

"It was really a struggle to figure out who to vote for. I did not want the possibility of two Republican candidates and now it does not look like that's gonna happen," said Bay Area voter Alex Schupert.

Others said they are still reviewing their options as election day approaches.

"I am going to be voting but there's a lot I need to sit down and look at the ballot for, especially with the local initiatives," said Kate Bolton of El Cerrito.

"I usually wait until the last minute, and I look through all the candidates and try to figure out what makes the most sense," added Bill Briggs of Los Angeles.

With many mail-in ballots already submitted, some voters said it is unclear how much impact the final days before Tuesday's election will have.

"Now that there's so many mail-in ballots that have been submitted, it's hard to tell what the next three days are going to mean as far as the governor's race goes," said another Bay Area voter.

Candidates are expected to spend the final stretch campaigning for undecided voters, as many residents continue weighing their choices ahead of election day.