The race to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown of California had always been one to watch, with Democratic heavyweights and Republican longshots squaring off to run the nation’s largest state. What political observers could not have predicted, however, is the degree to which the nascent #MeToo movement would morph into a powerful political force, shaping the contours of the debate in unexpected ways. With three of the six major-party candidates facing questions about their past personal conduct, party leaders are wondering how voters will respond as the June primary looms.

The first thing to remember about California politics is that the top two vote-getters coming out of the primary will square off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. So, for example, Sen. Kamala Harris defeated fellow Democrat Rep. Loretta Sanchez in 2016, rather than facing a Republican opponent.

In the gubernatorial race, the early handicapping–which still obtains–had it that two out of the top three Democrats–Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles mayor Anthonio Villaraigosa and State Treasurer John Chiang–would easily out-poll their Republican challengers, John Cox, Doug Ose and Travis Allen. The only woman in the race, Democrat Delaine Easton, trails in the polls.

Then the #MeToo movement happened and, as much as anywhere, its impact was felt in the entertainment industry, headquartered in Los Angeles. First, Harvey Weinstein was exposed as a serial predator. Then Senator Al Franken resigned over allegations of inappropriate behavior. The ensuing string of allegations under the hashtag banner of #MeToo rocked Hollywood, ensnaring powerful executives, directors, and stars from NBC, CBS, Warner Bros., the CW, Amazon, Netflix, and even family-friendly Pixar. That prompted very public displays of unity among women in the industry at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards. In parallel, criticism of “bro” culture in the tech world galvanized women in Silicon Valley, putting pressure on companies like Google and Uber to strive for greater gender equity in the workplace.

Which brings us to Villaraigosa and Newsom, the two best-known men vying to be the Democrats’ standard bearers this fall. Both candidates are well-known and popular statewide, but questions about their past conduct in the workplace have dominated the first round of debates, threatening to create an opening for opportunistic Republicans.

While mayor of San Francisco, Newsom had an affair with his appointments secretary, who was married to another mayoral official. Both marriages ended in divorce, and Newsom apologized. Villaraigosa’s wife left him after it was revealed that he was having an affair with a TV reporter who covered City Hall. She was suspended and reassigned as a result. Villaraigosa, who has since remarried to another woman, has apologized as well.

For their part, the Republican candidates have been attacking Villaraigosa and Newsom over past conduct. But their efforts to raise the issue may have been blunted this week, when the legislature released documents on sexual harassment allegations against its members, past and present. The files revealed that Allen, a state Assemblyman from Orange County, was one of seven legislators in Sacramento accused of sexual harassment, a charge he flatly denies.

While the men argue among themselves on the debate stage, the real question is what do the state’s millions of women think? Will these reliably Democratic voters shun one of the better-known candidates in favor of Chiang or possibly Easton? Or will past infidelity be forgiven in the service of electing a strong progressive to lead a state that often sees itself as a bulwark against conservative Trumpist policies? While the race remains something of a lay-up for Democrats, it should be clear that candidates everywhere will be held to higher standards of accountability in the post #MeToo moment.

The only caveat, of course, is that Donald Trump is currently the president of the United States.