SAN DIEGO — Here's a political postcard from California, where the scenery is beautiful, but the election choices are grotesque.

It makes for a depressing vibe. ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show broadcasts from Los Angeles, picked up on it.

"Here in California, we have a real toss-up in the races for governor and for mayor of L.A.," Kimmel said during his monologue on Election Day. "I don't know that I've ever seen an election like this one, where no one is excited about voting for anyone on the ballot."

Kimmel was being kind. Saying that no one was "excited about voting" in California's primary election is putting it mildly.

I thought about sitting it out, which I've done in the past. I also thought about declaring "none of the above" by writing in a candidate. In the end, I did neither. Instead, I took my medicine — and it was bitter. I was forced to choose the least worst option.

I don't live in Los Angeles. So I didn't have to grit my teeth and choose between Democratic incumbent Karen Bass, Republican challenger and reality TV star Spencer Pratt and city council member and self-described Democratic socialist Nithya Raman.

With nearly two-thirds of ballots counted, Bass has just 35% of the vote compared to 29.9% for Pratt and 22.8% for Raman. It's likely that Bass and Pratt will face off in the general election in November.

Still, like I said, the L.A. mayoral race is not my problem. And as a Californian in 2026, I don't need any more problems.

Democrats in the Golden State are victims of their own success. The more dominant they are, the more mediocre they become.

According to the California Secretary of State, as of Dec. 2025, Democrats account for 44.96% of registered voters in the state. Republicans make up 25.14%. And those who, like me, are registered as "No Party Preference" represent 22.65%.

Always losing should motivate Republicans to try harder. But they aren't trying at all. Why widen the tent when you can set it on fire? Meanwhile, Democrats — who are complacent because they lack competition — stopped trying long ago.

For months, I've described the governor's race in my home state as "cursed" or "snakebit."

It started in July 2025 when former Vice President Kamala Harris — a native of Oakland — decided to take a pass on a race that she was very likely to win so she could run for president in 2028 in what is sure to be a highly competitive contest that she is all but certain to lose.

In April, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who was then one of the frontrunners, dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct and assault. Swalwell's exit led to a surge by former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who had been polling in single digits and suddenly catapulted to the top of the heap.

Finally, the chaos on the Democratic side — along with the fact that several Democratic candidates split the vote — helped the chances of Republican Steve Hilton, a British American former Fox News host who has only lived in the United States for 14 years and been a U.S. citizen for five. He appears to still be learning our customs.

For instance, it's adorable that Hilton compares his experience as a legal immigrant who was greeted with a welcome mat when he entered the United States on a visa with that of hard-working and sorely needed undocumented immigrants who are treated as doormats.

At present, it appears that Becerra and Hilton will both be on the ballot in the general election in November.

Each candidate will face a challenge. Becerra — who is the epitome of calm — will have to convince Democratic voters that he is a fighter who can go 12 rounds with President Donald Trump. And Hilton — who can't win without support from Democrats and Independents — will have to contort himself so he can attract moderates without losing MAGA.

Both candidates represent change. As a Republican, Hilton presents himself as a departure from what he sees as 16 years of failed Democratic policies. As a Mexican American, Becerra — who would be the first Latino to sit in the governor's office since 1875 — is himself a departure from 151 years of the state being run by white men.

Say, that is an impressive winning streak. Where is DEI when you need it? And, besides political polarization and mediocre candidates, what does California have to show for all that white reign?

I'll get back to you.

To find out more about Ruben Navarrette and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Element5 Digital at Unsplash