With rumors abound that former Vice President Kamala Harris will run for California governor in 2026, former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs is reportedly getting a major boost in his campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Democratic donor Steve Phillips is launching an independent campaign to raise $10 million for Tubbs with the fear that other high-profile candidates for governor would shift their attention to the Lieutenant Governor’s race if Harris runs.
Driving the news: The race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom is already packed with Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Controller Betty Yee, along with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican.
- But recent polling places Harris atop the field, if she decides to run.
The big picture: Tubbs, who was ousted as Stockton mayor by Kevin Lincoln in 2020, is one of four Democrats in the race for Lieutenant Governor, joining former State Senator Steven Bradford, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Sausalito Mayor Janelle Kellman.
- Per the Chronicle’s report, Phillips is teaming up with Democratic Donors Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan to support Tubbs in case other Democrats look for a potentially easier race down the ballot.
What he’s saying: “I don’t want people looking over at the lieutenant governor’s race and feeling like, ‘Oh, there’s a soft landing spot,’” Phillips told the Chronicle.
The backstory: Tubbs championed universal basic income during his time as Mayor.
- He was first elected to the Stockton City Council in 2013 at 22 years old and won election as mayor in 2016 with over 70% of the vote.
- Tubbs started a universal basic income program in Stockton to give 125 residents $500 per month for two years.
- Stockton voters, however, did not respond favorably to Tubbs after four years, voting in Lincoln by nearly 13 points in 2020.
