Just hours before suspending her bid for California governor, former state controller Betty Yee gave an emotional, candid interview to CBS News California Investigates, describing a race she called “unpredictable and turbulent” and explaining why she no longer saw a viable path forward.
Yee said a mix of hard political realities led to her decision: polling that showed voters weren’t prioritizing experience and competence, a large bloc of undecided voters who never broke her way, and a campaign finance environment that dried up donor support. She described working with a longtime polling firm that found a striking lack of resonance for the themes she ran on — competence, experience and concerns about troubling behavior in political life — and concluded the time before the June primary was too short to change course.
A deeper disappointment for Yee was the lack of sustained support from within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. As the only AAPI woman in the race, she had hoped the community would rally behind her historic candidacy; instead, past donors and expected backers did not step up, a dynamic she said she intends to examine more closely.
Yee pulled back the curtain on the personal toll of running: the strain on her family and the quiet strength of her husband, whom she called her “superpower.” She spoke of sadness at how ugly political contests can become and of the sacrifices made by those closest to her. Yet she insisted that suspending the campaign didn’t end her commitment to public service. She said she would return to community work and continue serving in other ways.
On the campaign dynamics, Yee criticized the current political climate in which conflict and spectacle dominate attention, comparing it to a “reality TV” era where fireworks attract voters more than steady competence. She said this environment marginalized the issues she emphasized and made it harder for more sober-minded candidates to break through.
Yee also addressed a perceived disconnect between party insiders and voters. Though she finished second in delegates at the Democratic convention behind Eric Swalwell, she noted the party’s endorsements and resource allocations did not always align with delegates’ or grassroots supporters’ views. She suggested that an endorsed candidate emerging from the convention might have narrowed the field and reduced confusion among voters.
Asked whether other low-polling candidates should leave the race, Yee demurred, calling decisions to continue personal and strategic. She praised inclusive debate stages that allow voters to hear a range of ideas and said voters deserve the opportunity to compare candidates directly.
Regarding ballot math, Yee acknowledged her name — and Eric Swalwell’s — would remain on the ballot despite suspensions, but she did not expect her presence to significantly splinter votes given her low polling. On Swalwell, she expressed confidence that his quick removal from the race and resignation from Congress would reduce his viability to voters.
Yee declined to immediately reveal any endorsement, asking for a day or two to consult with family and team before making a decision. She pledged to announce soon so her supporters would know how to proceed.
Throughout the interview, Yee returned to themes of civic responsibility and optimism about California’s capacity to solve problems. “I am stepping aside from this race for governor because this is a time where I do not see a path to be successful,” she said, while adding that success takes many forms and that “the work doesn’t stop here.” She vowed to remain active in communities across the state and to continue advocating for leadership that taps the talent of all Californians.