What on Earth Is Happening in California? Your Guide to a Very Weird Election.

What the bejeezus is going on in California? With mail-in voting opening this week in the June 2 primary elections, the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom remains a hot mess. Among the bloated field of mostly meh candidates — Tom Steyer? Really? — there is no breakout star. Democratic support is so fractured that the two Republicans could place first and second in the all-party scrum, shutting Democrats out of the general.

The whole spectacle has taken on the feel of a bad reality show. “Temptation Island” without the hookups or “The Great British Baking Show” without the custard. And that was before Eric Swalwell’s campaign collapsed under accusations of sexual predation (which he has denied). The roster of remaining contenders has many viewers shaking their heads and asking: Is this really the best California has to offer?

The Red Tribe

The Tough Guy. Chad Bianco, 58, sheriff-coroner-administrator of Riverside County. Politics: so MAGA.

With more than three decades of law enforcement experience, Mr. Bianco has the Trumpiest campaign patter and a vaguely angry energy. He has distinguished himself as the race’s election-fraud conspiracy theory enthusiast. In February, he opened a fraud investigation into last fall’s vote on Prop 50, the ballot measure enabling a mid-decade redrawing of the state’s congressional map. Swayed by specious claims from activists, he seized more than 650,000 ballots. Early last month, the California Supreme Court ordered a halt to his inquiry — just two days after President Trump endorsed the other prominent Republican in the race, Steve Hilton. So much “stop the steal” energy for so little payoff.

He pitches himself as the antidote to California’s dysfunctional one-party rule by Democrats.