Sen. Alex Padilla passes on widely expected run for California governor
Sen Alex Padilla Photo courtesy of his office This article was originally published by CalMatters Sign up for their newsletters U S Sen Alex Padilla of California will not run for governor in next year s highly watched race to succeed Gov Gavin Newsom the senator unexpectedly publicized in the U S Capitol on Tuesday The decision comes after months of speculation that California s senior senator who Newsom appointed to succeed former Vice President Kamala Harris after she stepped down in could throw his hat in the ring and dominate an otherwise open field Padilla s staff endorsed Tuesday that he would not be seeking the governorship It is with a full heart and even more commitment than ever that I am choosing to not be running for governor of California next year Padilla recounted reporters in the U S Capitol I choose to stay in this fight because the Constitution is worth fighting for Padilla the first Latino to represent California in the Senate gained national attention this summer after a video went viral of him being forced to the ground and detained at a press conference hosted by Department of Homeland Safeguard Secretary Kristi Noem In his brief remarks Padilla declared he had received encouragement to run from people across the state including business and labor leaders people who approached him at his church the grocery store and local parks Californians have urged me to do everything I could to protect California and the American Dream from this vindictive president Padilla stated I ve been truly honored and humbled by their encouragement and I ve taken it to heart The crowded Democratic field still includes prominent names like former U S Rep Katie Porter who made headlines for threatening to leave a televised CBS interview after the reporter demanded questions she didn t like and former Wellness and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra Former California State Controller Betty Yee the only other female candidate still in the race has called on Porter to drop out Other Democrats still in the mix include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villairaigosa who lost to Newsom in State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and former Assemblyman Ian Charles Calderon Prominent Republican challengers include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable Want to submit a letter to the editor guest column or opinion piece Find our guidelines and submission form here
