Gavin Newsom In, Dean Florez Out of Lt Governor Race


San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom declared his candidacy today for the California Lieutenant Governor race, and “proudly accepted the endorsement of State Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez who… has decided to withdraw from the race and pledge his full, immediate support to Mayor Newsom.”

Newsom, who ran a short-lived campaign for the 2010 gubernatorial race, has also been endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Assembly Speaker John Perez, State Senate President Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, and dozens of other state Democratic leaders. Newsom, a fourth generation Californian, has been San Francisco mayor since 2003.

Declared Newsom, “The issues I fought for when I ran for Governor last year haven’t changed: our state still faces a massive budget crisis, painful unemployment, and rising student fees that threaten the stability and accessibility of our University system.

“Too many Californians lack access to quality health care and too many schools are overcrowded and underfunded. But, despite our challenges, I will always believe in California – the dynamism of its past and the promise of its future.”

Dean Florez wrote to his supporters this morning , “As much as I want to be Lieutenant Governor, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s entry into this contest has dramatically altered the dynamics of the race. I’ve studied the numbers, looked at the possibilities, and considered all the relevant polling information which indicates that he commands a formidable lead that would be hard to surmount… Make no mistake, I want to see our party succeed in the upcoming election.”

Opposing Newsom in the June 8, 2010 primary is Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, daughter of the late, legendary Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and sister of former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. Hahn was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001, and reelected in 2005 and 2009.

Given the nasty tone of an email about Newsom sent out today by the Janice Hahn Lieutenant Governor 2010 Committee, TheLiberalOC.com surmises that she, unlike State Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, won’t be dropping out anytime soon!

4 Comments

  1. Claudio, while Janice Hahn faces an uphill battle in this race, there are definitely chinks in Newsom’s armor. He’s not beloved in many important corners of San Francisco, certainly.

  2. claudio, I don’t know what town you live in ? but here in LA everyone that knows Janice thinks she is a ding bag on a good day a nice old lady.

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