Sen. Anna Caballero (D–Merced) announced Wednesday that she is running for California Treasurer.
The race for Treasurer is wide open with current Treasurer Fiona Ma terming out of office after next year.
The big picture: Caballero has served in the California Legislature, first in the Assembly from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2016 to 2018.
- After terming out in the Assembly, she ran for the Senate in 2018, where she has remained ever since and is in her final term in office.
- Along with her time in the Legislature, Caballero previously served as the Secretary of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency for former Gov. Jerry Brown.
- Caballero was also the Mayor of Salinas and a farmworker attorney.
State of the race:Caballero enters the race with vast support from her Democratic colleagues in the Legislature, boasting endorsements from Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Hollister) and Central Valley legislators Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D–Merced), Asm Jasmeet Baines (D–Bakersfield) and Sen. Jerry McNerney (D–Stockton), along with other two dozen lawmakers. She also has the support of Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea.
- She isn’t the first Democrat to launch a campaign for Treasurer, however, with former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Board of Equalization member Antonio Vazquez already in.
- Politico reported Wednesday that former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has explored the race, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is considering a move to the race from her current campaign for Governor if former Vice President Kamala Harris makes a bid to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.
What she’s saying: “I’ve spent my career making government work for working people – especially in tough economic times,” Caballero said. “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I help oversee billions in state funding to programs that make a difference every day in Californians’ lives. I’ve worked with Democrats, labor, and local leaders to deliver on the issues that matter most – housing, healthcare, and education. That’s what leadership looks like. And that’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring as State Treasurer.”
