The headline in the L.A. Times grabbed my attention: “California Governor Race Wide Open.”
This follows an announcement this week from California Sen. Alex Padilla that he won’t run for the post. Former presidential candidate Kamala Harris made a similar declaration a few weeks ago.
Well, if this is a job that few quality people apparently want, why don’t I jump in and do it?
Our current governor, Gavin Newsom is term-limited and thus, can’t run for re-election in 2026. So how about me?
After all, I’m a longtime California resident, I’ve visited most of the great counties (34 of 58) in the state, I have thoughts and opinions and I’ll be happy to tell you exactly how I feel, without dancing around the subject. I’ve voted in every California election since Carter-Mondale, I know how to clean up messes and get things done.
Unlike current front-runner Katie Porter, I don’t blow up at reporters for asking follow-up questions. I remember when Antonio Villaraigosa was mayor of Los Angeles for two terms, ending in 2013, but I can’t recall anything he did. The others running—I’ll give you a dime if you can name any of them.
Governor Jefferson Graham does have a really nice ring to it, don’t you think?
And I’ve got a great platform. I’m a one-issue candidate, and really topical. Can we bring back the $5 Grilled Cheese sandwich please?
Maybe I could get my friends in the assembly and senate to draft a law, which I’d sign on day one, outlawing vertical video, and flipping Reels, Shorts and TikToks back to horizontal, so people can view the 60% of the image they’re missing from vertical.
OK, that’s two issues.
So what do I have to do to get this campaign off the ground?
I went on the California Secretary of State website to check out the requirements.
Here’s the deal: to get on the ballot, either 7,000 people have to vouch for me with their signatures, or I could pony up $4,000 in a filing fee. ($3,916.12 to be exact.)
Four thousand dollars? For a job in which people take non-stop potshots at you, call you names and criticize every move you make? Then again, you’re the top boss in the state, and the military just might play some familiar tunes whenever I’m around. (I do love “California, Here I Come.”)
But come on! It only costs $1,000 to file to run as president of the United States in the New Hampshire primary. Governor of California is really four times the cost?
My state does have 40 million people vs. 1.7 million in the “Live Free or Die” land. So I get it.
But $4K? Can you imagine how many iPhones I could buy with that kind of money? Or a souped up Mac Studio with a rad display?
Now we’re talking.
But back to my ambitions.
So if $4K is out of my budget, how about Lt. Gov.? That’s a relative bargain. Just $2,937.08 (or 7,000 sigs.)
What about other state posts? You could run for Congress for just $1,740 (or 3,000 signatures.) Assembly and State Senate are just $952.91 (But you still need the 3,000 sigs.)
But why I should settle for lower positions when the Governor spot is the one that’s wide open?
How about this? Because if you are going to run for Governor, it’s been said that California elections are the most expensive in the country, like to the tune of $100 million. I’d be lucky to raise $1,000. And that would be from my mother.
So that’s why I must humbly announce that I’m going to pass on this great opportunity, and just continue what I’ve been doing, writing Substack posts and traveling the world for Photowalks.
For $4,000 I could buy more plane tickets, spend more money on rental cars and create photo memories, walk and drive all those great backstreets and not have anyone (except a certain person named Ruth) yell at me.
So that’s that. I’m not going to bother with a press conference to announce my decision, or a slickly produced online video. I’m just going to tell it to you straight right here, in your e-mail box.
Let someone else do it. I won’t run, and I won’t accept a draft nomination either.
On the other hand, a draft wouldn’t cost me a dime.
Hmmmm……
A great loss for our state.