The California secretary of state released the official list of eligible candidates for state and federal offices. For governor, 27 hopefuls are running to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown.
That list includes 12 Democrats and five Republicans. Others are registered Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom or no party preference.
Politics 101
David Taub
Of the 27, seven have established themselves as mainstream candidates: Democrats Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom; State Treasurer John Chiang; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (listed as Public Policy Advisor on the ballot); former state Superintendent of Education Delaine Eastin; and former Hillary Clinton staffer Amanda Renteria. For the Republicans, Assemblyman Travis Allen and businessman John Cox are the most viable candidates.
Even more crowded is the field for U.S. senator. Dianne Feinstein is running for re-election. Of her 31 challengers, the most notable is state Sen. Kevin de León. Both are Democrats.
Under California’s “jungle” primary system, the top-two vote getters, regardless of party, move on to the November general election.