Gavin Newsom Uses Twitter to Announce His Run for Governor

And the race is on.

"It’s official. Today, I became a candidate for governor because California needs a new direction," wrote San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in an e-mail blast today.

"In San Francisco, we’re showing what can be accomplished when we stop looking back and start looking for solutions," Newsom said. "We are the first, and still the only, city in America implementing universal health care. We’re proving what you already knew - it is less expensive to keep people well than it is to treat their sicknesses."

He may end up facing Attorney General Jerry Brown, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman and former San Jose Rep. Tom Campbell, all who are currently thinking of running. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is rumored that he will make a run, but has neither confirmed or denied that he will. Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi is already running, but may soon run for congress instead.

In addition to twittering the announcement, he also used Facebook for the announcement. His official video announcement is embedded below.