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Barely know who's running for office this year? Get ready for 2017 and 2018
In this file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown, right, gestures while speaking out against tuition increases as Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, listens during a meeting of the University of California Board of Regents in San Francisco. Newsom is running to succeed Brown as governor in 2018.
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Barely know who's running for office this year? Get ready for 2017 and 2018
California this year votes on a U.S. senator, state lawmakers and a boatload of ballot measures, but races are already underway for the Los Angeles mayoral election next year and a new governor in the following year.
In 2017, Mayor Eric Garcetti will be defending his seat against multiple challengers. Five candidates so far have declared their intentions to try and unseat him.
Campaign finance numbers out this week show Garcetti has already amassed a large warchest. He’s collected more than $2.2 million in contributions through Dec. 31, including donations from labor, business and individuals. His contenders were still at zero as of the end-of-year filing.
Garcetti's opponents are relatively little known, but one has a higher profile than the others — one-time Obama campaign staffer Mitchell Schwartz, who most recently joined the group.
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Schwartz formerly worked at Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club. In the past, he's worked for former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's campaign as well as those of Al Gore and Bill Clinton.
Green Dot Charter Schools founder Steve Barr has also signaled he may run against Garcetti. Barr is reported to be weighing a mayoral bid, citing the Garcetti's seeming disinterest in educational issues.
And 2018 seems even farther away, but you’ve probably heard Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is aiming to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. So far, there are three other candidates who’ve filed to run for the state’s top job.
California State Treasurer John Chiang has also said he's interested in running for governor. Moreover, a recent early poll reportedly conducted by Newsom's campaign found considerable support for San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Villaraigosa, both of whom have not officially filed papers to run.
Newsom has already landed a major labor endorsement from the California Nurses Association, but with many more months to campaign, no doubt more endorsements have yet to come.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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