Former Los Angeles Mayor throws hat in 2026 California Governor race

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s 8-year stint as the head executive for the nation’s most populated state will end in early 2027, and the race to replace him is already filling up.

The latest to say they’re gunning for the spot should be a familiar name to Angelenos: Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Villaraigosa, 71, has long expressed interest in the states’s highest office. Serving as L.A. Mayor from 2005 to 2013, his gubernatorial campaign is branding the Democrat as a much-needed “problem solver.”

“California is the state where anything is possible with hard work and determination,” Villaraigosa said. “But our future depends on our willingness to face our biggest challenges. I believe we need a problem solver to lead our state. That’s why I’m running for Governor.”

A campaign video released on Tuesday morning touted the former Mayor and Assembly Speaker as a Democrat who is willing to work on bi-partisan legislation and who is tough on crime — which is likely to be a central issue surrounding the 2026 election.

Villaraigosa’s time as Mayor was highlighted with an emphasis on restructuring the L.A. Police Department, beginning with mass hiring near the beginning of his tenure. As his term went on, he shifted toward an attempt to fix a struggling education system in L.A.

The 2026 Gubernatorial Election will be his second. He ran in the primary in 2018, placing third behind Newsom and Republican John Cox.

Villaraigosa joins what’s already a crowded 2026 field for Democrats. Those already in the race include State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, California Democratic Party Vice Chair Betty Yee and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.

Current L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Rep. Katie Porter are among names rumored to potentially join the race at a later date.

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