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Villaraigosa joking with reporters beside the 405 freeway in 2013. Photo: Gary Leonard
On Saturday morning, Antonio Villaraigosa released a statement confirming that the former mayor of Los Angeles was, yes, seriously considering running for the U.S. Senate seat that Barbara Boxer is vacating at the end of her term. “Too many Californians are struggling to make ends meet, pay the bills, and send their kids to college,” Villaraigosa said. “The urgency of the needs of the people of this great state have convinced me to seriously consider looking at running for California’s open Senate seat.” It was, by the way, the first post on his Facebook page in more than a year.
Political reporters had nothing else to do on a January Saturday and were all over it. Mitt Romney had gotten into Friday's cycle by saying he might run for president again in 2016. Eric Garcetti had taken himself out of the Senate conversation already. The day was clear for Villaraigosa, and here's a sampling of how he was covered.
He joins a large field of Democratic candidates weighing a bid, including billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and several members of Congress. On the Republican side, Assemblyman Rocky Chavez and former GOP chairmen Duf Sundheim and Tom Del Beccaro are considering bids.
Villaraigosa has previously expressed interest in running for governor. But according to a source close to the former mayor, he sees a path to victory in the Senate run as the only major political figure from the Los Angeles area considering a run. And the race will take place during a presidential campaign, with expected higher voter turnout among Latino, African American and Asian voters -- constituencies he successfully tapped during his mayoral contests.Among political observers and some of his supporters, Villaraigosa is viewed as a better legislator than executive. Before serving as a two-term mayor of Los Angeles, he was speaker of the California Assembly. Potential obstacles for his candidacy include business decisions he has made since leaving office, as well as personal baggage that led to the dissolution of his marriage.
But being the only Latino candidate to run for the seat would be a boon.
Mehta also comes back with an analysis piece for Monday's paper, looking at how Villaraigosa would likely be the strongest Democrat in the race from Southern California. The big names being talked about, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Kamala Harris, are both from the Bay Area, as are Boxer and the state's other longtime senator, Dianne Feinstein.
He would be the biggest-name candidate from Los Angeles — the largest media market in the state and home to millions of voters — and the most prominent Latino to run, a demographic advantage that nods to one of the fastest-growing voter groups in the state.
"If he decided to run for senator, he would be very much a tier one candidate on all fronts ... on the policies, his history, his experiences, his name recognition," said Maria Elena Durazo, vice president of the UNITE HERE union and a powerful labor voice. "A Latino winning the Senate seat from California would be a very powerful message to send."But Villaraigosa's prospects are mixed. He has alienated some key constituencies, lugs personal baggage and would probably face stiff competition from candidates who regard him as a has-been from a previous generation.
Villaraigosa grew increasingly unpopular among his own city's voters during his tenure as a two-term mayor. And he has suggested repeatedly in recent years that he would prefer to run for governor in 2018.
Christoper Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee:
Villaraigosa, a former speaker of the state Assembly, had a high-profile turn as chairman of the Democratic National Convention in 2012. He previously has expressed interest in running for the open governor’s office in 2018, when Democrat Jerry Brown will finish his fourth and final term. But the 2016 election could present a more favorable electorate. Democrats, Latinos and Southern Californians all participate in greater proportion in presidential elections. Villaraigosa would be the state’s first Latino senator.
“He’s a very charismatic and engaging candidate who works very hard,” said Rose Kapolczynski, a Democratic strategist who helped guide Boxer’s campaigns.Kapolczynski suggested that turnout in the Senate primary could be further increased if voters viewed the race as historically significant. She pointed to the 1992 election, known as “the year of the woman,” when Californians sent Boxer and her longtime Senate colleague Dianne Feinstein to Washington. Harris, who is African American and South Asian, also would present a first for the state.
Villaraigosa is one of the first potential candidates to express interest in running. But there are certain to be others. State Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Rep. Jackie Speier have all been mentioned as possible candidates.
Breitbart.com even weighed in.
Often seen by his detractors as self-aggrandizing, the former mayor spent a good deal of time out of town on political excursions. Although he was criticized for his flamboyance by some, he was able to retain strong approval ratings (58%) from his Democratic and Latino base.High unemployment and the nationwide crash of the housing market tainted Villaraigosa’s mayoral record. Los Angeles was affected particularly hard by the 2008 recession.
The 41st mayor of Los Angeles is animated by a strong push for climate change and was the Chairman for the Democratic Convention held in Charlotte in 2012.
Previously on LA Observed:
Villaraigosa continues to build his ex-mayor portfolio
Villaraigosa loses votes with eyesore in Moreno Valley
Yahoo asks a funny question: Villaraigosa for president?
