Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) will run for governor of California in 2026 after current Gov. Gavin Newsom reaches his two-term limit.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday:
Villaraigosa, who has been out of elected office since leaving Los Angeles City Hall in 2013, joins a crowded field of high-level Democratic candidates that includes Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former state Controller Betty Yee, state Sen. Toni Atkins, and state schools Supt. Tony Thurmond. All are vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is serving his second and final term in office.
In his announcement, Villaraigosa, 71, emphasized his ability to work with both Democrats and Republicans while mayor and when he served as speaker of the California Assembly, and his record of balancing budgets and enhancing public safety and education.
