

Lots of movement today in Sacramento. Governor Jerry Brown has names Rep. Xaveir Beccera as the state’s first Latino AG to replace senator-elect Kamala Harris. And former California Assembly speaker John Perez announced for Becerra’s soon to be vacant Congressional seat.
From the LA Times, this story on Becerra.
Perez took to Facebook to announce his intentions to run for Congress and has already scored a number of endorsements.
Less than a mere two hours after announcing his intention to run for the upcoming election for California’s newly vacated 34th Congressional race following Governor Jerry Brown’s appointment of Rep. Xavier Becerra for California Attorney General, today former California State Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez rolled out a wave of new endorsements, including:
- California State Controller Betty Yee
- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Ret.)
- U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass
- California Board of Equalization Chair Fiona Ma
- California Democratic Party First Vice Chair Alex Rooker
- State Senator Isadore Hall
- State Senator Jerry Hill
- L.A. County Assessor Jeffrey Prang
- State Assembly Member Phil Ting
- State Assembly Member-elect Todd Gloria
- State Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal (Ret.)
- State Assembly Member Paul Fong (Ret.)
- Los Angeles City Council Member Bob Blumenfield
- San Francisco County Supervisor David Campos
Upon receiving the endorsements, Speaker Emeritus John A.Pérez released the following statement: “I’m incredibly grateful for this early showing of support from such distinguished leaders as Controller Betty Yee, Mayor Villaraigosa, Board of Equalization Chair Ma, Congresswoman Bass, CDP Vice Chair Rooker, Senators Hall and Hill, Assessor Prang and Assembly Members Gloria, Lowenthal, Fong, Ting, along with L.A. Councilman Blumenfield and San Francisco Supervisor Campos. Their endorsements reflect the enthusiasm behind our announcement today. I’m thrilled to have them on our team.” Earlier today Speaker Emeritus Pérez released the following announcement statement:
“In the aftermath of November’s election nationwide, two facts are clearer than ever. The first is that we need to fight harder than ever to protect the progress we’ve made. The second is that California is the one place in the country where Democrats know how to win, and the one place in the country where government is working. “I am proud to have played a role in enacting some of the most impactful legislation in the country to help poor and working class families, as well as the middle class on issues from college affordability to job training to public education, environmental justice, equality and more. I’m running for Congress to take these California values and our state’s visionary approach to the national level. “California needs leadership who will stand up against Donald Trump, but also leadership that will fight for the poor, the middle class, for job creation, and for a vision that can help us win all across the country. These are a few of the reasons why I’m running for Congress.”
Speaker Emeritus Pérez previously represented large swaths of the 34th Congressional district while serving in the State Assembly.
Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez is a University of California (UC) Regent, where he fights for college affordability and serves as a voice on behalf of students and parents. From 2010-2014, Pérez served as Speaker of the California State Assembly, where he helped pass some of the most influential legislation in our state’s history on nearly every issue.
Speaker Emeritus Pérez made history both by being the longest serving Speaker of the Assembly in the era of term limits, and by being the first openly LGBT leader of a State Legislative chamber in California. As a legislative leader, he also spearheaded efforts in 2012 to win an unprecedented super majority in the State Assembly.
While in the State Assembly, Speaker Emeritus Pérez authored legislation that created Covered California, the state’s healthcare exchange stemming from the Affordable Care Act, as well as the Middle Class Scholarship Act, that dramatically reduced public university tuition costs.
During the height of the Great Recession, Speaker Emeritus Pérez inherited a $64 billion structural state deficit, and by the end of his tenure as Speaker, California was running a significant surpluses. Prior to his career as an elected official, Speaker Emeritus Pérez worked as a union organizer. He grew up in El Sereno and Highland Park.
From a pedigree standpoint, great choice (although the same could be said about “Crazy Greg” running for water board, city council or dog catcher!!). It does inflict a certain unknown in other 2018 races.
Likely, DIFi will die or retire soon. Loretta built up great name recognition, some others lining up for Gov.
I laugh at the “Dem’s” who use the North / South argument, ignoring that Barbara Boxer has lived in Palm Springs (RIVERSIDE COUNTY!) for twenty years.
Using that argument, Anaheim just elected a Mexican for city council.