2018 California Gubernatorial Election Megathread

[Kingpoleon]

Newsom is the better man.

[Kingpoleon]

Newsom was a major ally and took the lead on advocating for marriage equality when it wasn't politically popular to do so. He's had some gaffes along the way, but who hasn't?

No, you see, he's ambitious and slimy because he's a former Mayor and only males can be ambitious and corrupt. In other words, he's basically like a Californian and Atlas-hated version of Joe Sestak to the Democratic establishment and base.

[Kingpoleon]

Prefer Chiang on a purely personal basis (I really don't like Newsom, despite him ticking most boxes)

Newsom seems to be very unpopular at this forum.

Newsom is unpopular in a lot of places; he's regarded as untrustworthy and in the pocket of corporations. He's seen as too "slick", and some people think its inappropriate that he had an affair with the wife of a staffer. He's rightly praised for his marriage equality stance, but a lot of people feel he's too much to the right economically. Or at least that's the impression I've heard from Californians I've talked to on a few forums.

A few Californians I talked to said that they like Chiang because they don't see him as slimy like Newsom or Villaraigosa. They feel he's a lot like Jerry Brown; low-drama, good for California's economy, and not transparently ambitious. Plus they think it'd be nice for California to have an Asian-American governor.

He's the lieutenant governor of Jerry Brown, the most libertarian Democrat alive. He himself has taken on Brown a bit on guns, which I thought would make him more acceptable to our forum members. It's sad that we let our personal views get in the way of the politician who was the freedom fighter obstructing the oppressive law that Kim Davis thought she was.

[Kingpoleon]

Kevin Faulconer would destroy everyone in this race. Chiang or Newsom are both weak candidates who will be annihilated by him.

Chiang may prevent Faulconer getting too many Asian-Americans into his coalition, but other than that Newsom is far more likely to hold Brown's coalition against Faulconer.

[Kingpoleon]

Kevin Faulconer would destroy everyone in this race. Chiang or Newsom are both weak candidates who will be annihilated by him.

lol

In case you haven't noticed, the Republican brand in California is dirt. Their star recruits in a massive Republican wave both lost by double digits, and the demographics have only gotten uglier for them since then.

Their star recruits faced down JERRY BROWN, of California Uber Alles. Please don't act like the fact that Jerry Brown has amazingly high crossover appeal and the two Senators have been in office 20+ years has nothing to do with their strong performance.

[Kingpoleon]

Smart move. He'll run in 2022 if it's not Newsom or Clinton/Newsom is really unpopular then.

[Kingpoleon]

Are Abel Maldonaldo or Steve Poizner considering running? If they don't, that leaves Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearingen as the only other major Republican who could run.

[Kingpoleon]

Agree. Without Faulconer it's, probably, Swearingen.. But - she is more conservative on social issues, and this is a substantial minus: i can (as i said) imagine republican being governor of California, but i can't do the same for anti-choice Republican for example...

Darrell Issa might run.

That said, I think James Hahn might want the Attorney General position when/if Harris leaves. Other statewide offices up in 2018 include:

Lieutenant Governor: D: Todd Gloria, R: Steve Poizner
Secretary of State: D: Alex Padilla(Incumbent), R: Abel Maldonado, Dan Logue
State Controller: D: Betty Yee(Incumbent), R: Tony Strickland, David Evans
Attorney General: D: James Hahn, Carmen Trutanich, Ron Galperin R: Stephen Cooley, Anthony Adams
Treasurer: R: Meg Whitman, Robert Dutton D: José Hernandez, Jay Chen, Laura Richardson
Insurance Commissioner: D: Lee Rogers, Hector De La Torre, Joe Dunn R: Michael Villines, Elizabeth Emken

[Kingpoleon]

Oh well.

Meg Whitman's pro-choice, IIRC. As for Representatives who are in the Main Street Partnership, I think Jeff Denham, Mimi Walters, or David Valadao would be interested.

Could you explain what's wron with Abel Maldonado or Steve Poizner?

[Kingpoleon]

I guess 2018 will be Newsom vs. Chiang in November thanks to our horrible jungle primary system.

Well,  i don't think that many California Democrats will be against such guaranteed choice. Just as most will be satisfied with this year Senate choice.. But in addition it gives a moderate votes some election leverage in this ultrapolarized times. Otherwise they wouldn't (essentially) have any reasonable choice in duel between left loonie Democrat and right crazy Republican...

smoltchanov, what do you think of Newsom?

[Kingpoleon]

Hahn is a great guy alongside great politics. I think he's make a fine Attorney General, and he could probably run for Governor if he wants to.