Backers of Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox are calling on GOP rival Travis Allen of Huntington Beach to drop out of the governor’s race.
Citing a new Public Policy Institute of California poll, a group of high-profile Republicans issued a joint statement Wednesday night:
“The Democrats don’t want Republicans to vote. That way two Democrats move forward to November – leaving Republicans shut out again. That’s no choice at all.”
San Diegans Carl DeMaio, the radio talk-show host, and former California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring made the statement along with Tea Party Express co-founder Sal Russo and California Impact Republicans President John Briscoe.
“The Democrat one-party rule in Sacramento is bad enough, but one-party elections are un-American,” they said. “President Trump’s endorsement of John Cox was the signal for all conservative and taxpayer groups to unite behind a single candidate to ensure that a Republican makes it to the November run-off.”
They said Allen has no path to victory “and he needs to drop out. By staying in, he can only help the Democrats.”
But DeMaio, the former mayoral and congressional candidate, called for Allen to quit five days ago as well.
Donald Trump has endorsed John Cox for California Governor. I’m asking Travis Allen to drop out of this race. His supporters should urge Travis to put ego aside and unite behind one candidate. @JoinTravisAllen @TheRealJohnHCox @realDonaldTrump
— Carl DeMaio (@carldemaio) May 18, 2018
Former California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro conceded Republicans running for office at all levels are hurt if the GOP doesn’t make the gubernatorial runoff.
“If they fail to coalesce behind one candidate,” he said, “it could be devastating in the fall.”
In the latest polls tracked by Real Clear Politics, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom leads all Democrats for a spot in the November showdown.
One recent survey — a Los Angeles Times-USC poll done April 18 to May 18 — showed Newsom at 21 percent, former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villarigosa at 11 percent, Cox at 10 percent and Allen at 5 percent — with a 4 percent margin of error.
Cox recently won the endorsement of President Donald Trump, and has also earned support from Newt Gingrich and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
The PPIC poll cited by Cox’s supporters showed Cox with a 2-to-1 advantage over Allen (44 percent support among Republicans to 22 percent).
Newsom (25 percent) leads among likely voters, followed by Cox (19), Villaraigosa (15), Allen (11) and Democrats John Chiang (9) and Delaine Eastin (6), said the PPIC survey.
Said Mark Baldassare, PPIC president and CEO: “Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom’s support has been consistent across five PPIC surveys, while John Cox’s support has sharply increased since our January survey.”
