CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR 2018 ELECTION

Six major candidates (four Democrats and two Republicans) have emerged as potential successors to Governor Jerry Brown.

The four Democrats are Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, State Treasurer John Chiang and former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin.

 

The candidates participated in a forum at the University of Southern California on January 13th.  All answered questions ranging from health care to environmental and education issues.

 

 

Newsom holds an advantage in major polls, averaging about 25 percent to Villaraigosa’s 15 percent, and Chiang’s, Allen’s and Cox’s high single digits. Newsom’s early campaign unveiling in February 2015 failed to scare off Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor and Assembly speaker, and Chiang, the state treasurer.

Villaraigosa’s campaign thinks more Latino, African-American and low-income voters than usual will turn out in the Trump era’s first midterm congressional election, and that they would favor Villaraigosa over Newsom. Chiang’s campaign has argued that assumptions about Latino turnout have been exaggerated by at least one polling company, inflating Villaraigosa’s edge over Chiang in the battle for the No. 2 spot.

State Assemblyman Allen, Businessman Cox, and former U.S. representative Doug Ose could consolidate Republican voters’ support. Then the lone GOP hope could get into the top two and qualify for the November election. Newsom talked more about his proposals to spur economic development.

Villaraigosa and Chiang would be happy if the big topics were Newsom’s support for Senate Bill 562, which would create a government-run “single payer” health care system in California, and the performance of San Francisco schools under Newsom’s influence. Opponents charge that the single-payer health care proposal that Newsom supports would dramatically raise taxes; Newsom dismissed the cost factor, saying the current system is “insolvent.” They also sought to undercut Newsom’s claims about San Francisco schools’ achievements when he was mayor, citing that a study shows African-American, Latino and Pacific Islander student performance in San Francisco lagging behind other counties; Newsom’s campaign said minority students’ academic achievement improved during his eight years as mayor.

Newsom campaign communications director Nathan Click said opponents “making desperate attacks and trying to pile on” shows they know Newsom is the “clear leader in the race.”