Hours before she announced she was suspending her campaign for California governor, former state controller Betty Yee sat down with CBS News California Investigates for an emotional and candid interview, calling the contest unpredictable and turbulent and explaining why she saw no viable path forward.
Yee said a combination of political realities led to her decision: polling that suggested voters were not prioritizing experience and competence, a large bloc of undecided voters who never broke her way, and a campaign finance picture that left donor support thin. Working with a longtime polling firm, she said, made clear that the themes central to her bid — competence, experience and concern about troubling behavior in political life — were not resonating enough, and the short stretch before the June primary made it unrealistic to change course.
She expressed particular disappointment that she did not receive sustained backing from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. As the only AAPI woman in the race, she had hoped the community would coalesce around her historic candidacy; instead, she said, some expected donors and backers did not step up, a dynamic she plans to examine further.
Yee also pulled back the curtain on the personal cost of campaigning: the strain on family life, the quiet support of her husband — whom she described as her “superpower” — and the sadness of witnessing how ugly political contests can become. Despite those hardships, she insisted that suspending her campaign is not the end of her public service. She said she will return to community work and remain involved in other ways.
On the dynamics of modern politics, Yee criticized an environment in which conflict and spectacle draw attention, comparing it to a reality-TV era where fireworks often eclipse steady competence. She argued that this climate marginalized the issues she emphasized and made it harder for sober-minded candidates to break through.
Yee also highlighted a disconnect between party insiders and voters. Although she finished second in delegates at the Democratic convention behind Eric Swalwell, she noted that endorsements and resource decisions did not always reflect delegates’ or grassroots priorities. She suggested that a single endorsed candidate emerging from the convention might have narrowed the field and helped reduce voter confusion.
Asked whether other low-polling candidates should leave the race, Yee declined to tell others what to do, saying such choices are both personal and strategic. She praised inclusive debate stages that allow voters to hear a range of ideas and said voters deserve opportunities to compare candidates directly.
On ballot math, Yee acknowledged that her name — and Swalwell’s — will remain on the ballot despite suspensions, but she did not expect her presence to significantly splinter votes given her low polling numbers. She said she believed Swalwell’s quick removal from the race and his resignation from Congress would diminish his viability to voters.
Yee declined to immediately disclose an endorsement, asking for a day or two to consult with family and her team before making a decision. She pledged to announce her choice soon so 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. She said she is stepping aside because she does not see a path to victory in this race, but emphasized that success comes in many forms and that her work on behalf of communities across the state will continue.