CA-GOV: Jerry Brown Is Running for Governor

Ending one of the worst-kept secrets in California politics, Jerry Brown will announce on Tuesday that he is running for Governor of California, a job he has been elected to twice before, in 1974 and 1978.

Brown, an enigmatic political figure whose father, Pat Brown, also served two terms as governor, is seeking to regain the state's top job near the end of a long political career. He has won elections to the posts of secretary of state and Oakland mayor, besides his current job; waged three failed presidential runs and lost a bid for Senate. Brown has also served as the state Democratic Party chairman.

Though he had been plotting this run for two years, Brown had resisted making it official while two would-be Republican contenders have openly battled for their party's nod. The winner of that primary contest in June, whether it be former EBay chief Meg Whitman or California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, will have substantial personal wealth with which Brown will have to contend in the general election.

Brown is currently 71 years old.

UPDATED 03/02/2010 02:29PM
Jerry Brown has released a video explaining his candidacy. I especially like "An insider's knowledge and an outsider's mind."