Two Democrats vying for the nomination in the governor’s race that is: ex-Gov. Jerry Brown and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today stated unequivocally that he won’t be joining them in the race for Governor in 2010.
“The answer is no,” Villaraigosa said in an interview on CNN. “I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do… I can’t leave this city in the middle of a crisis.” He noted the city’s unemployment rate, residents who have lost their homes and the budget deficit.
Villaraigosa was considered a top contender until recently, and would have brought definite strategic advantages to the race (the only SoCal resident and the only Latino in the race). He never caught fire in the initial polls, though (and this weekend’s LA Times poll showing him with lukewarm approvals and barely beating Brown on his own turf in LA may have been the last straw). This way Villaraigosa saves his powder for another fight — such as the 2012 Senate race, if Dianne Feinstein retires.
RaceTracker: CA-Gov
Newsom is barely respected by anyone deeply involved in the political process here in SF; he is all charisma, no depth at all, and his political team appears to be a bunch of assholes seeking to ride him to the governorship. He doesn’t actually like politics — the mixing it up, power-play, making-it-happen side of politics — nor is he good at it. He floats above the city like a shiny balloon, just waiting to pop when heat or conflict comes. I have no faith in his ability to serve out two successful terms as governor.
I think Jerry Brown at least has the discipline to avoid unforced errors, but that’s about all I can say for him. That and he could probably prevent a Republican’s winning.
Villaraigosa had many of the liabilities that Newsom had, right down to the twin affairs.
The only other name (besides Feinstein) I’ve ever heard on the Democratic side was Loretta Sanchez. So, anything out of her lately? Does Villaraigosa’s exit renew her interest at all?
And what do people who watch Congress more closely than I do think of her?
interestingly is the final nail in Newsom’s coffin too, since most of Villaraigosa’s support will go to Brown (if no one else gets in).
It’s just a shame though that we can’t get a good candidate here. The party and the country would be so much better off with some prominent, western, national progressive figures, starting with the Governor of California. Brown won’t be in a position to run for president when he’s 80.
Th really odd thing is, given the rampant ambition of politicians in general and California specifically, why has no decent “new face, new ideas” candidate some forward?
Garamendi is running for Congress…Poizner is a Republican who will get challenged if he doesn’t leave his seat open. The Non partisan school superintendent position is open too.
Who are you planning on supporting in this race? Who do you think will end up winning? Will any other major candidates get in (Westly?, Sanchez as mentioned above, Lockyer? Someone else?), or will it be between the two Bay Area candidates, Brown and Newsom?
Take it from someone who lives just outside San Francisco, if Newsom beats Brown, it’s going to be Christmas in July for who ever the Republicans nominate (probably Meg Whitman). I don’t disagree with most of Newsom’s positions but I don’t trust him in the governor’s mansion.
Personally, I’d be perfectly happy if Villaraigosa ran against Feinstein in the primary. Feinstein is really out of touch and the LA mayor did gain his post through a primary challenge so he’s no stranger to that route. And Villaraigosa hasn’t been a bad mayor, he’s just a behind the scenes guy with a lot on his plate. I’m willing to bet that by the time 2011/2012 roles around, he’ll have a lot to take credit for should he try to take Feinstein on.
No sane person would want to be governor of California.
I’m putting all my chips on Brown
I think he has the best experience out of everyone right now. Newsom is just way too polarizing. The way he gambled on Prop 8 really disappointed me and my friends. I just couldn’t find a way to vote for him the general
As for the Latino vote I see Jerry Brown doing more to court them. He’s got some powerful friends like Steven Ibarra (who I believe worked on Mark Warner’s campaign for Gov)
Folks, Loretta might have been a contender, but she is contending with a Ensign-like scandal of her own that is threatening to break into the mainstream media. Until she gets this under control, she can’t run for governor or senator, and she’ll even have a tough time with Van Tran next year. Her affair with her married military escort has been rumored for a long time. Now it has been brought into the open. Comments like the ones on two Latino politics and OC blogs have recently put the matter into concrete, verifiable terms. See– http://orangejuiceblog.com/200… AND
http://latinopoliticsblog.com/…
I think this is what has caused her to set aside her governor campaign this year. She won’t run and risk the media scrutiny, even though she might have been a strong candidate.