What Tommy Vietor has said about 2026 California gubernatorial election

2 quotes · 2 episodes · Apr 7, 2026 – Jun 2, 2026

Tommy Vietor, Co-host of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World who conducted the Josh Turek interview, has been quoted on 2026 California gubernatorial election 2 times in 2 episodes of Pod Save America, most recently on June 2, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

Vietor says Katie Porter is his ideal governor but he voted strategically because she trails in polls.
“if I could wave a magic wand and make someone governor, it would be Katie Porter”
Pod Save America: Trump and Pod Save America Agree: JD Is Lame (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 30:02
Came true
Vietor urged low-polling Democratic candidates to drop out by mid-April, arguing that candidates under 5% cannot win.
“If you're not at 5% in the polls by like April 15th, when ballots are getting mailed to people, when this thing is really getting into the final stages, like you're not going to win”
Pod Save America: Strait Up War Crimes (Apr 7, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:25

Predictions

Came true
Vietor urged low-polling Democratic candidates to drop out by mid-April, arguing that candidates under 5% cannot win.
“If you're not at 5% in the polls by like April 15th, when ballots are getting mailed to people, when this thing is really getting into the final stages, like you're not going to win”
Pod Save America: Strait Up War Crimes (Apr 7, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:25 · 2026 California gubernatorial election
No candidate polling under 5% around the April 15, 2026 cutoff advanced from the June 2 top-two primary; Steve Hilton (R) and Xavier Becerra (D) advanced, with Tom Steyer third. Becerra was at 3-4% in early April, when Vietor spoke, but after Eric Swalwell's exit he rose to 10% in an Emerson poll released April 16 and 13% in an April 15-17 Democratic Party tracking poll, clearing the threshold by the deadline. The November 3 general election had not yet taken place as of this check.
Sources: Becerra and Hilton Advance in California Governor Race (TIME) · Election results are in: Steve Hilton to face Becerra in November election (CalMatters) · California 2026 Poll: Swalwell Exit from Governor Race Opens Lane for Democrat Xavier Becerra (Emerson) · With Swalwell out, Becerra could be Democrats best hope (Times of San Diego) · Hilton, Becerra still lead Steyer in California governor's race (KTLA)
Checked Oct 6, 2026

Episodes

Trump and Pod Save America Agree: JD Is Lame
Pod Save America · Jun 2, 2026 · 1 h 36 min
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor discuss Trump's abandoned slush fund, Iran talks, California, Iowa and Maine primaries, and JD Vance; Senator Andy Kim describes Delaney Hall.
Strait Up War Crimes
Pod Save America · Apr 7, 2026 · 1 h 37 min
Favreau, Lovett and Vietor discuss Trump's war-crime threats against Iran, the defense budget and deportations, then Lovett interviews Rep. Sarah McBride.

Others on 2026 California gubernatorial election

Megyn Kelly · 7 quotes
Chad Bianco · 6 quotes
Katie Porter · 5 quotes
Jon Favreau · 5 quotes
Tom Steyer · 3 quotes
Dan Pfeiffer · 3 quotes
Sean Davis · 2 quotes
Matt Mahan · 2 quotes

Tommy Vietor on other topics

United States war with Iran · 14 quotes
Strait of Hormuz · 5 quotes
2026 United States midterm elections · 5 quotes
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action · 4 quotes
2026 United States Senate election in Maine · 4 quotes
Gas prices and inflation · 4 quotes
2026 United States Senate election in Michigan · 3 quotes
Political corruption in the United States · 3 quotes