Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is once again running for governor.
Villaraigosa, who placed third in the 2018 primary behind Gavin Newsom and John Cox, announced Tuesday that he is throwing his hat in the ring for 2026.
The big picture: The road to becoming governor will be a tough one for Villaraigosa, who joins a crowded field of high-profile Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Controller Betty Yee, Senate leader Toni Atkins and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
- Villaraigosa served in the California Assembly from 1994 to 200, finishing out his last two years as Assembly Speaker.
- He was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2003 and won the election for mayor in 2005, where he stayed until 2013.
- Newsom selected Villaraigosa to be an advisor on infrastructure issues in 2022 to help identify projects that could utilize funding from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law.
What he’s saying: Villaraigosa said in an announcement that he has a record of balancing budgets and enhancing public safety and education, going hand-in-hand with his ability to reach across the aisle as a Democrat to work with Republicans.
- “California is the state where anything is possible with hard work and determination,” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “But our future depends on our willingness to face our biggest challenges. I believe we need a problem solver to lead our state.”
Watch: Watch Villaraigosa’s announcement video here:
