As Guy wrote, California Senator Barbara Boxer is retiring–and there’s a very far-fetched way for Republicans to win this seat. Guy mentioned that it would take discipline and the stupidity of several million California Democrats who don’t know that they’re sabotaging their own party thanks to the jungle primary system. Two Republicans and four solid Democrats (enough to split the vote) are needed for this to work, but don’t count on it.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and state Treasurer John Chiang were mentioned as some other names being floated, but Newsom is now out; he seems to be more interested in becoming governor (via Politico):
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he won’t run to succeed Barbara Boxer in the Senate.Newsom had been considered one of the top prospects to run in 2016 for the seat that Boxer, a fellow Democrat, had held for more than 20 years. But, in a Facebook post, he said he saw his future, for now, in California, suggesting he was eyeing the governor’s office in 2018.
“It’s always better to be candid than coy,” Newsom wrote. “While I am humbled by the widespread encouragement of so many and hold in the highest esteem those who serve us in federal office, I know that my head and my heart, my young family’s future, and our unfinished work all remain firmly in the State of California — not Washington D.C. Therefore I will not seek election to the U.S. Senate in 2016.”
But, Harris has officially announced her candidacy (via WSJ):
Kamala D. Harris, California’s attorney general, announced her candidacy for U.S. Sen Barbara Boxer ’s open seat Tuesday, saying in a letter to supporters that she wanted to begin building a “grass roots campaign” less than a week after Ms. Boxer said she would not seek re-election in 2016.“I will be a fighter for the next generation on the critical issues facing our country,” Ms. Harris said. “I will be a fighter for middle class families who are feeling the pinch of stagnant wages and diminishing opportunity.”
Ms. Harris, 50, has been one of the state’s most-mentioned names to run for higher office since winning her spot as the state’s top law-enforcement official in 2010.
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This race could potentially be a $1 billion showdown. California is incredibly expensive to run a statewide campaign due to its size and the various media markets that dot this bastion of liberalism.
So, you need lots of cash to run–and it looks as if Tom Steyer, Mr. Global Warming himself, might run for the open seat. Oh, and he’s loaded.
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