Democrat Betty Yee drops out of race for California governor

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Betty Yee has suspended her campaign for California governor.

The San Francisco native made the announcement Monday morning, giving emotional remarks when thanking her family.

"To my family, especially my siblings, their emotional and financial support and sacrifice always, I just thank them," Yee said. "None of them were particularly political; they vote, but to see first-hand their older sister embark on this journey was just something that I was so proud to share with them."

Yee first joined the race in 2024 and was part of a crowded field of Democrats, but had been tracking near the bottom of polls.

She formerly served as the California state controller from 2015 to 2023.

Despite her dropping out, voters will still see Yee's name on the ballot in the June 2 primary. Voters will also still see former Congressman Eric Swalwell, who dropped out of the race as a frontrunner amid sexual assault allegations.

Democratic party leadership had previously called on candidates polling in the single digits, such as Yee, to drop out of the race.

She says she will have more to share about her experience in the gubernatorial race in the coming days. She has been a critic of how the race is set up with the top two candidates advancing, after concerns of there possibly being two Republican candidates.