It's Official...I am Running for Governor of California

It's official. Today, I became a candidate for governor because California needs a new direction.

I hope you will join me as we set out to build a campaign that does more than win an election. Together we can create the kind of campaign that changes California.

If you want to help us get off to a strong start, please contribute here.

In San Francisco, we're showing what can be accomplished when we stop looking back and start looking for solutions.

We are the first, and still the only, city in America implementing universal health care. We're proving what you already knew - it is less expensive to keep people well than it is to treat their sicknesses.

Join us and you can help take the fight for excellent and affordable health care to all of California.

Across California, teachers are facing layoff notices; but we are protecting teachers from layoffs, raising test scores and breaking down the barriers to a college education.

Contribute today and we'll build the kind of campaign that can force Sacramento to stop arguing about better schools and start creating them.

The unemployment rate in California is soaring. But in San Francisco, the local economy is doing better because we helped attract new industries and new high-wage jobs. We are working together to grow our economy with a local stimulus plan that will put people back to work, starting with environmental initiatives and green-collar job training programs.

In San Francisco, we've done all of this while balancing our budgets - and our bond rating has gone up, thanks to sound fiscal management and a rainy day reserve.

Join us, and we'll create the kind of state government that stops searching for someone to blame and starts finding solutions.

The truth is, we can't keep returning to the same old, tired ideas and expect a different result. If we take a new approach, and recognize that we are all in this together, I believe we can put California on a new path toward a better future.

Join us in a new kind of campaign that gives all of us the tools we need to make change. Join us on Facebook, Twitter or at www.GavinNewsom.com. Make your voice heard and help us make real change.

Some of you already know me. You know I am not afraid to stand up and fight for what's right. From quality health care for everyone to equal rights for all Californians, I will do more than talk about problems - I will work with you to solve them.

We all know California can do better.

Let's work together to set a new direction for California.

Comments

[Osusuki]

I wish Mayor Newsom (or any other qualified progressive) the best of luck, and sincerely hope that he (or some other qualified progressive) is the next Governor of the state of California. The truth is, however, only one person has demonstrated the brains, the ethics, and the fortitude needed to pull our poor benighted land out of the mess that the Republicans have gotten us into over the last several years, and that man has finally given up after four rounds of being marginalized by the Newsoms, the Browns, and the great unwashed and will be running for a slam-dunk safe congressional seat in the next election. Too bad. This state really needed John Garamendi in the governor's chair.

[ElBruce]

Five hundred B-list celebrities will run against you and Cali will end up with Gov. Hervey Villachez next term. And they will fully deserve everything that happens to them after that.

[renaissance]

Gavin,
I like your pragmatic approach to many city issues, but as a San Franciscan and a Californian, I wish you would speak more honestly about illegal immigration.
Do you support amnesty for all illegals? Do you support enforcing the border sufficiently to stop illegal immigration?
My local park, refurbished with millions of taxpayer dollars and meant to be a neighborhood asset, is instead a camp for illegal workers. This is just one example of the excesses we have allowed with one community being allowed to break the laws with impunity.
If Mexicans and other Central Americans are allowed to freely cross as cheap labor, then how about allowing Chinese to freely enter and work illegally? What would the hispanic community think of that (I am hispanic, fyi)??
Please address this issue with more than safe platitudes. We all realize that honest, hard working persons from poor countries deserve dignity and opportunity, but it cannot be at the expense of ruining others welfare.

[bagelmaven]

YEEEHA go Gavin!!!!!!

[zachman]

I'll contribute and I'm not even in California. He's a true progressive and he would be a great governor for California.

[nee]

I'm a native Californian and I will not contribute to his campaign and I will NEVER vote for him. Our state is already too much of a santuary state. Maybe if you ask him nicely he will move to your state and you can elect him governor there.

[Nimajoon31]

We in San Francisco love Newsom.

You will definitely have my vote.

[JZ735]

I wish Gavin luck...now you just have to make sure those nuts who cooked up Prop 8 don't try to mess with you, too...kick some a--, Gavin...Cali needs a tough, progressive Governor!

[GayGrandpa]

You have my vote...and will write a check too. Glad to hear it!

[yngskywlkr]

YOU'VE GOT MY VOTE !!!!

Even when you eventually run for president in 2016 at the end of BO's second term.

Now if we can just figure out a way to get the GOVERNATOR out of the way.

[GayGrandpa]

Let's get him elected governor...let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

You've got my vote unless Jerry Brown runs.

[GayGrandpa]

I'm not so nuts about the old guys, you know why??? because they are double obligated and don't always have the edge on the edge...Newsom has hot new energy producing ideas, ocean power and so on...the future is now...so let's elect it and enjoy it and maybe I might get an extra decade out of these old bones.

[Judyisacutie]

Jerry Brown seems cantankerous to me but he knows state politics. I think he could be more effective than Gavin Newsome but equally divisive. What about Villaraigosa? He may be pretty good as governor. He can work with anyone and he got a gang truce in L.A. What about John Garamendi? He's also a very likeable guy. The Republicans will probably run Meg Whitman. I know, people are reading this and thinking 'Meg Who?'

The Dems will probably win this one so they might as well think long-term and pick somebody who can win two terms.

[NeoLiberal]

Jerry Brown has held many offices in California politics.

Isn't it time to change?

Hasn't he already had his many chances?

[Brinna]

Finally, a progressive candidate with a track record of fiscal responsibility and true human values which honor equality, hard work, fairness, brilliant new ideas, inclusiveness and a fearless commitment to what is right, not what is expedient politically.

He's got my vote for Governor and my energy and resources to back his campaign.

[GORGOROTH]

Isn't it enough that he has great hair? He's got my vote on looks alone. Yes, I'm that shallow.

[jefflewis]

I feel guilty agreeing with you.

[RobHughey]

Well, there's no doubt he'd be the hottest Governor in the US. ;-)

[claudiam]

Good luck to you Gavin! I know I don't count because I am in Arizona but I will talk you up as much as possible. I've seen you on Rachel and Mahr's program and Ithink you are right on! claudiatucsonaz

[sfbayani]

Mr. Newsom:
I have lived and worked in San Francisco for more than 15 years.
And I have seen, that your administration has been that - all press release, all photo-ops.
How do you think you can fix California, when you cannot even fix San Francisco budget?
Now, that you have announced formally your campaign, we San Franciscans can rightly guess, we will be seeing you less and less in San Francisco.

[doodlefarbe]

"Now, that you have announced formally your campaign, we San Franciscans can rightly guess, we will be seeing you less and less in San Francisco."

So we can expect a large SF turnout for Candidate Newsom, due to the hope of moving him off to Sacramento?

[CherokeeGirl]

Hi Gavin! I saw you on Rachel Maddow and I think you made alot of sense, and I liked that you have "spunk" and SEEM TO be not afraid to say what you think and fight for what's right.

Although I did cross the aisle to vote for Arnie, and have been happy with his performance (could have done without him coming out for John McCain against Obama there at the end, but at least he didn't attent that joke of a Republican convention.

Anyways, I would be willing to give you my vote, but i'm gonna need to see more of that "spunk" and show us how you have stood behind your word, like Obama does.

Good luck to you!

[JeauxSchmeaux]

Happy with Arnie's performance? Idi.ot.

[JustLeftOfRight]

He's no Grey Davis, that's for sure! LOL

[dontvote4him]

You have "spunk". The pretty boys are going to like that.

[caligyrl74]

Gavin Newsom becoming Governor may be the wake up call we Californians need. As someone who has spent a large portion of my adult life in SF, I am really concerned. The city has declined dramatically under this guys rule. And there's absolutely no excuse for some of the hair brained policies he's put into place.
To those outside the city, he's a joke. I respect him for standing up for equal rights, but there have been more bad things about him than good. San Francisco is possibly my favorite place in the world - I love the culture, the attitude and the vibe, but over the past 5-6 years I've watched the city become more filthy, I've watched the homeless situation get worse, drugs become a major problem, illegal immigrants have increased dramatically in numbers, and the city actually smells and looks rather disgusting.
I am very liberal minded and that's partly why I've always had so much love for the city, but things have gotten out of control and it is as a direct result of Newsom's failed leadership. I know some who live in the city will disagree if he's managed to be effective in some area that interests them, but overall this man is not a good leader. His not so distant personal drama's reveal serious character flaws that are inexcusable. Like I said, outside the city he's a complete joke - hopefully it will stay that way and he won't get anywhere near Sacramento.

[LaurieLee]

How could you blame Gavin for this? He's never here. Between campaigning, dating, marrying and vacationing he doesn't have much time for city business.

[georgewetherill]

Liberal or conservitive, its a no brainer.

Very good post. Thank you.

[JustLeftOfRight]

Yea, like we don't know your agenda George. LOL

[cdouglas]

"... I've watched the homeless situation get worse, drugs become a major problem, illegal immigrants have increased dramatically in numbers, and the city actually smells and looks rather disgusting. "

Funny, I could say almost all the same things about L.A. and Villaragosa. I am hoping he runs just so he is no longer mayor of L.A. Is seems no one with half a brain ever wants to take on the job of Governor of CA. Will I ever see a candidate I am excited about?

[jsomerville5]

With all due respect, Mayor Newsom, I have to say that as a New Yorker who was visiting San Francisco over the Christmas holidays, I was deeply upset by the severe homeless problem in your city.

Per capita, it seems to be much worse than in New York City. Additionally, while walking around the City Hall area and downtown, I kept running into large groups of homeless guys who were drinking and congregating on the sidewalks, hollering at tourists and women. On several occasions, they were completely blocking the sidewalk with one of their raucous drinking parties.

How can you allow this to happen ? I can tell you that Mayor Bloomberg would never ever permit this to happen.

The homeless problem was the biggest impression I came away with on my SF visit. You still have way too much work to do in SF before thinking about running for Governor.

[caligyrl74]

You are so right! Prior to the past few years, the homeless in SF were very peaceful, respectful and they did not yell and scream at tourists. NOW, they stand congregate in large groups on the street harassing and yelling at people in the business district, they make obvious drug deals right out in the open, they smoke crack on the streets in the downtown area and they are EVERYWHERE in the city now. Gavin's naïve approach to deal with the problem has only made it much worse; in fact he made SF an place all homeless people want to be.
SF used to be a beautifully flawed, throwback kind of city, unlike anyplace else in the country and under Gavin’s rule it’s become a sad caricature of itself.

[creoleguy32]

As a someone who lived in California and New York-everyone knows that Cali. has a bad homeless problem. It's very very bad in California. The number of mentally ill and homeless people that just wonder around California is flooring. Anytime Ca. has tent cities and igloo huts for homeless-then something is wrong and it stems from that illegal work force, lowering wages down to 2.00 every 2 hours for pay!
NY is no where near Ca. when it comes to homeless or crazy people.

[JustLeftOfRight]

My sense of Newsom is he's a slick politician, has a lot of great ideas, but he's not fully effective at putting them into practice. Great leaders must be able to articulate positions clearly and intelligently and Gavin's got that, but I have wondered whether there was more under the surface. From what I've seen posted here I'm starting to doubt there is.

I still can't vote for Jerry Brown. Would things be better this time around? Really, this guy is the poster child for career politician who doesn't know how to get another job. I often wonder if really cares about the public service or the limelight he gets from it.