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Antonio Villaraigosa, ex-mayor of Los Angeles, declared this week that he steps out of the Senate race. As per the politician’s statements the decisions follows more than six weeks of serious analysis and further opens the path for Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is presently the main contender for the position.
Villaraigosa stated during this announcement:
“I know that my heart and my family are here in California, not Washington, D.C. I have decided not to run for the U.S. Senate and instead continue my efforts to make California a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Villaraigosa’s discourse suggests that he may be thinking about racing for senator in 2018, when Jerry Brown’s term reaches its end. Also, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom has begun his board for the gubernatorial run, and Villaraigosa may also go in that direction.
Interestingly, surveys show that Villaraigosa may have to put up a serious fight against Harris.
The attorney general boasts a solid voter base in Northern California while Villaraigosa collects blended reactions even among LA residents, who ought to hypothetically back the former mayor. Voters of latin American origins firmly back him but the African-American voters, who have generally been a key piece of his coalition, are projected to go Harris this time.
Villaraigosa captured media attention over the recent weeks and made headlines with is purported plan to race for a Senate spot. For instance, consultant Garry South had anticipated that Villaraigosa would seek Senate spot and start campaigning, saying “I think he’s going to run.”
What’s more, former House Secretary Henry Cisneros also made public his belief that Villaraigosa would join the race and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez was quoted saying that Villaraigosa was, “close” to selecting the campaign staff to run his Senate fight.
Villaraigosa held the post of state assemblyman from 1994 to 2000, putting in two years as speaker for the lower house. He also marked as Los Angeles city councilman from 2003 until he was voted yto the mayoral seat in 2005. He exited office in 2013 because of term limits and now gets his “bread” as an expensive political consultant.
Harris has been San Francisco’s district attorney and just won a second term as attorney general in November.
Villaraigosa had an opportunity to turn into the state’s first elected Hispanic congressperson, repeating his leap forward when he turned into the first Latino to end up as Los Angeles mayor in more than a hundred years.
Harris could also score two firsts for a California representative — the state has never elected a black senator or one with Indian origins. She is born from a black father from Jamaica and an Indian mother.
Image Source: US News
