Republican candidates missing so far from California’s next race for governor

It’s easy to criticize the field now running for California governor, an office now occupied by perhaps the ultimate lame duck – Gavin Newsom.

One thing for sure, Newsom will not have much influence over the race to replace him. He’s certainly not positioned to name his successor, the way President Biden did when he quit his reelection run and anointed Vice President Kamala Harris.

Instead, the ultra-liberal Democrats who dominate every major office in California and run both houses...