Garcetti Says No to Higher Office
APRIL 1, LA WATCHDOG--Mayor Eric Garcetti has decided not to run for Governor of California or the United States Senate in November of 2018.
According to insiders familiar with his thinking regarding his political future, Garcetti is unwilling to risk a career-ending loss in a primary brawl with three other Democratic hopefuls (Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, State Treasurer John Chiang, and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa) who have already raised more than $15 million. Contributing to this decision is Governor Jerry Brown’s unwillingness to endorse Garcetti or the other three front runners.
After a meeting this week in Washington with Senator Dianne Feinstein, Garcetti agreed to support her fifth reelection campaign, not that she has any real competition. As part of the conversation, Feinstein indicated that Garcetti has the potential to be an excellent Senator and is prepared to support his candidacy after she retires in 2024 at the age of 91.
As is always the case with Garcetti, there is a back story.
As part of his agreement not to run for Governor, both Newsom and Chiang agreed to support his candidacy for the Senate. This includes appointing him Senator if Feinstein should resign or leave office before 2024.