Former Los Angeles mayor joins growing California governor race to succeed Gavin Newsom in 2026

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday announced he will run for California governor in 2026, joining a growing group of candidates jockeying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Villaraigosa previously ran for the office in 2018 against Newsom, finishing third in the primary behind the governor and Republican John Cox. He has a long history in California politics, serving as Assembly speaker, a member of the Los Angeles City Council and eventually the city’s mayor.

Villaraigosa left office in 2013 and has not served in elected office since that time.

He will compete for the governor job against Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former state Controller Betty Yee.

Attorney General Rob Bonta is considering a run, but he told The Sacramento Bee in May that he’s waiting to make his decision until after the November election. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra may also be contemplating a bid, but he didn’t provide a direct answer to the question of whether he would run when asked in June.

The field remains wide open, although Kounalakis has already raised significant funds. Her campaign announced earlier in the month she already has more than $9 million on hand for the race.

In a campaign video he released on Tuesday, Villaraigosa touted his work as mayor and Assembly speaker. He plans to focus on the state budget, education and lowering costs for small businesses and middle class families.

“We have serious problems, and money alone won’t fix them,” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “We need to focus on better outcomes, fixing what’s broken and investing in what works. I’m a problem solver, and with your support, that’s exactly what I’ll do as governor.”