Ethan Agarwal is part of a crowded Democratic field in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race that party leaders worry could split the vote under the state’s top-two primary system and allow two Republicans to advance. The California Democratic Party chair has publicly urged lower-polling Democrats to drop out, but efforts to thin the field have largely failed and sparked backlash. The party now plans to spend multiple six figures on a series of polls starting March 24 to show candidate standings and potentially pressure weaker candidates to exit, a move some critics say could be used to manipulate the outcome.