“I believe we are about two steps away from a nightmare scenario where [some] Republicans begin to simply give up and throw in with Brown, with serious negative consequences,” said Ron Nehring, former chairman of the California Republican Party.
His concern is emblematic of the party’s troubles in California. A Republican has not been elected to statewide office since 2006, and the GOP share of registered voters has dipped beneath 30%, a historic low. No viable Republicans have emerged this year to contest most of the other statewide offices up for contention, such as attorney general, controller, treasurer and lieutenant governor.