Ricardo Lara Becomes 1st LGBT Individual Elected Statewide In California

Ricardo Lara has been declared the winner of the California Insurance Commissioner race, defeating former Republican (and current Independent) Steve Poizner. Lara is an openly LGBT state Senator and as of today he leads Poizner 52%-48% (or 400,000 votes) with nearly 10 million votes tabulated:

Lara becomes the first openly LGBT individual elected statewide in California!

Hat tip to Equality California.

CA-GOV: Jerry Brown's First Ad

Saturday Politics: CA-GOV, CA-SEN, AD-43, AD-47

It's Saturday, so it's time to talk politics again. This week's edition will discuss tightening polls in California's governor and senator races, homophobic developments in the 43rd Assembly District race, and an endorsement in the 47th District.

CA-GOV. Recent polling from PPIC has shown that Meg Whitman's once HUGE lead over Steve Poizner has diminished to single digits, 38 to 29, in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Research 2000 also shows Whitman with a lead, 46 to 36. Jerry Brown now has a lead over either of the Republican hopefuls, leading Whitman 42 to 37 and Poizner 45 to 32. The two Republicans have now spent a combined $82 million in their primary battle (billionaire Whitman $68m, Poizner $24m). The primary election is Tuesday June 8th, although voting by mail has been possible for the last two weeks.

CA-SEN. Incumbent senator Barbara Boxer has finally received some good polling news. Her job approval rating reached 50% (according to PPIC) and she leads all three potential Republican challengers: Carly Fiorina (48-39), Chuck Devore (50-39) and Tom Campbell (46-40).

AD-43. From Burbank Blogger comes a disturbing story about homophobia and ethnicity by Mike Gatto's Republican opponent Sunder Ramani. In the race to replace Paul Krekorian in the 43rd Assembly District with a significant Armenian population, apparently people employed by Ramani have been calling Armenian households and telling them (in Armenian) not to vote for Gatto because he supports "homosexual legislation." Burbank Blogger even has proof this is going on because one of the phone calls has been taped and the audio posted to YouTube (with English translation). The race for the 43rd has become increasingly bizarre, with a freak misprint in vote-by-mail ballots making the complicated election (there's both a special election run-off and a general primary election on the same ballot) even moreso. MadProfessah has endorsed Gatto and hopes that Ramani is punished for stooping to under-the-radar appeals to ethnic homophobia.

AD-47. The race to replace soon-to-be-Congressmember Karen Bass is starting to get more attention in the LGBT community. Reggie Jones-Sawyer won the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club last month, but Holly Mitchell has more cash on hand ($150k to $80k) and the official California Democratic Party nomination. Both are strong supports of full LGBT equality.

CA-GOV: "Why Won't Meg Talk To The Press" Meme Gets Traction

CA-GOV: Poll Shows Whitman and Brown Tied

A February 15th telephone poll of 500 California "likely voters" by Rasmussen has Republican Meg Whitman and former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown tied at 43 percent support each, with a margin of error of 4.5 points. Brown leads the other Republican challenger, Steve Poizner, 46% to 34%.

Brown, who is currently California's Attorney General, has not officially announced his gubernatorial candidacy but he is the only prominent California Democrat left, especially with Senator Dianne Feinstein expressing her desire not to join the race in no uncertain terms.

CA-GOV: Whitman Dumps Another $20 MILLION In

Republican gubernatorial candidate stunned political observers by donating another $20 million to her campaign this week, leaving her with $30.9 million cash on hand and bringing the total amount of money she has spent towards becoming the next governor of California to $39 million. And she has yet to air a single television ad, spending almost $19 million on radio ads.

Whitman has said she is wlling to spend the Bloombergian sum of $100 million of her estimated $1.4 billion in order to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger.

CA-GOV: Poizner Dumps $15M Into Own Campaign

Republican Steve Poizner tried to revive his struggling campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination by injecting $15 million dollars into the faltering effort to succeed the Governator.

With his recent self-financing, State Insurance Commissioner Poizner has matched the $19 million his main rival former eBay CEO and fellow billionaire Meg Whitman has given to her quest to become Governor of California in her inaugural foray into electoral politics.

When Whitman poured $15 million into her campaign in July, Poizner spokesman Jarrod Agen criticized her, saying, "This election isn't an eBay auction, and you can't win by outbidding your opponent."

But Poizner has struggled to gain traction with six months to go before the June primary. He ranked third in the latest Field Poll with support from just 9 percent of likely voters, compared with 22 percent for Whitman and 20 percent for a third candidate, former South Bay Rep. Tom Campbell.

Poizner's cash infusion "will quiet whispers in political circles that he wasn't serious about the race," said Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.

By all means, knock yourselves out trying to get the nomination, Meg, Steve and Tom! Jerry Brown will be tanned, rested and ready!

CA-GOV: Whitman Endorsed By Former L.A. Mayor Riordan

Republican insider Richard Riordan who was never able to get the brass ring of the California governorship himself has endorsed Meg Whitman for that position.

In the Whitman news release sent out this morning, Riordan says, "Meg believes the future of our state and the strength of our nation depend on Californians rededicating ourselves to education. Her commitment to returning control of our schools back to parents and teachers and demanding accountability makes Meg the best candidate."

Whitman repeated the education theme in her quotes in the news release.

"I appreciate Richard Riordan's steadfast commitment to education reform,'' Whitman said. "Over the decades, he has worked relentlessly to ensure every California student has access to a quality education. I am honored to have Mayor Riordan's endorsement and he will be an asset to my team."

CA-GOV: Poizner Atacks Whitman Over (Non)Voting Record

Hat/tip Law Dork

CA-GOV: Brown Beats All Republicans, Newsom Trails All Of Them

California political junkies are buzzing about the new Rasmussen poll which shows former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown handily leading all the major Republican gubernatorial contenders (Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell) while Brown's rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination trailing the same three possible Republicans. Here's the data:

Brown (D) 44%, Whitman (R) 35%
Brown (D) 45%, Poizner (R) 32%
Brown (D) 44%, Campbell (R) 34%
Whitman (R) 41%, Newsom (D) 36%
Poizner (R) 40%, Newsom (D) 36%
Campbell (R) 42%, Newsom (D) 36%

This is definitely NOT very good news for the Governor Gavin movement. That's too bad, because MadProfesah has been leaning towards Newsom, especially since Gerry Brown hasn't announced whether he wants the job (again) yet, and acting as attorney general, Brown was responsible for the devastatingly incompetent presentation by an Assistant Attorney General during the Proposition 8 California Supreme Court oral argument.

CA-GOV: Whitman Formally Announces For Governor

Meg Whitman formally announced she was running for Governor of California on Tuesday.

"California is at a tipping point. Our finances are bankrupt. Much of our society's infrastructure – the roads, the ports, the water delivery systems – is at the breaking point," she said.

She said creating jobs, cutting state spending and fixing the education system will be her top priorities.

Whitman, 53, said she would cut 40,000 jobs from the state government payroll and reduce state spending by another $15 billion. That would come on top of the 18 percent cut made to the general fund over the last two years.

In an interview with The Associated Press later Tuesday, Whitman was vague about what state programs she would cut or what employees she would eliminate to meet her goals.

She said eliminating 40,000 jobs would save $3.3 billion, and she would also seek to shrink commissions and boards, use technology better and consolidate the state's purchasing power. Whitman said she would thoroughly examine the budget to look for waste and fraud.

"Trust me, there is $15 billion at least in there," she said

"Trust me"? Is this some kind of joke? Whitman has donated $19 million to her campaign so far, and has said she may spend as much as $150 million to become the nation's largest state's first female chief executive.

In other news, Jerry Brown announced the creation of an exploratory committee to allow him to begin raising money for a 2010 run for the Governor's office.

CA-GOV: Whitman Donates $15M To Own Campaign

Former eBay CEO and Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman announced that she is donating 15 million dollars of her own money to her campaign to be California governor.

Whitman has now self-funded her campaign to the tune of $19 million, raising $6.7 million by June 30th.

Whitman's main Republican rival for the gubernatorial nomination (State Insurance Commisioner) Steve Poizner has raised $1.2 million and given his own campaign $4.2 million.

CA-GOV: Whitman Endorsed By John McCain

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman made headlines this week when she was endorsed by failed Republican presidential candidate John McCain in her bid to become the next Governor of California.

“The woman standing beside me represents all of the qualities that will attract people to our party,” McCain told a crowd of about 500 supporters at the Marconi Auto Museum. “We will not only tolerate, but accept people whose views are different than our own.”

Whitman, former CEO of eBay, has an early lead in the race for the GOP nomination for governor, leading Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell in the election to be held next year. Her campaign focuses on job creation, state spending cuts, and education reform.

[...]

“I’m pro-choice,” Whitman said, receiving applause for a significant portion – if not the majority – of the audience. “It’s not that I want more abortions. But I don’t want to take that choice away from women and their doctors.”

Whitman talked about other aspects of diversity needed by the party as well. She pointed out that Republicans [re]present just 31 percent of registered voters in the state and noted her campaign’s outreach programs targeting woman, Latinos and 18- to 29-year olds.

“There are people who share our core values who don’t feel welcome in the Republican Party,” she said. “I want to make everyone feel welcome in the Republican Party.”

Really? She wants everyone to feel welcome in the Republican Party? Then why do the leaders in the Republican Party keep denying equal rights for LGBT citizens?And why does she support efforts to divorce me and my husband?

I notice that African Americans were not on the list of people that Republican outreach efforts are targeting. I wonder why? Isn't the Chair of the GOP a Black man?

CA-GOV: 2010 Republican Candidates Statements on Prop 8 Ruling

There have been dozens of statements and press reactions to the California Supreme Court decision on Proposition 8 today. Two statements that I am very interested in as a Californian voter were made by the leading Republican candidates for Governor.

Current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made the following statement about the Proposition 8 ruling today:

"While I believe that one day either the people or courts will recognize gay marriage, as governor of California I will uphold the decision of the California Supreme Court. Regarding the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Proposition 8's passage, the court made the right decision in keeping them intact. I also want to encourage all those responding to today's court decision to do so peacefully and lawfully.

Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for governor, today issued the following statement on the California State Supreme Court Proposition 8 ruling:

"I believe the California State Supreme Court made the right decision. Last November, the people of California passed Proposition 8, and today the Court upheld their decision. This simple yet powerful fact is the foundation of our democracy. Regardless of one’s position on the measure, this ruling gives people confidence that their vote matters and can make a difference."

California Insurance Commissioner and Republican candidate for Governor Steve Poizner issued the following statement today:

"The California Supreme Court took the appropriate action today in upholding the will of the people by affirming Proposition 8. The people of California have spoken. They voted decisively that marriage should remain between a man and a woman. That is also my personal view.

"There was much more at stake today than even the issue of gay marriage, as important and emotional as it is for so many people on both sides of the issue. If the Court had overturned Proposition 8, it would have had set a terrible legal precedent, divided Californians even further, undermined support for the judiciary and state government itself while serving as a tremendous blow to the fundamental American concept of government of the people, by the people and for the people.

"Regardless of which way the Court ruled today, a particularly shameful element of this issue has been the Attorney General's unethical abandonment of his legal responsibility to the people of California. It is no surprise that Jerry Brown politicized and abused his latest position in an unprecedented way in order to play political catch-up with Gavin Newsom.

"As Governor, Brown opposed marriage for gay Californians. As a candidate for Attorney General, Jerry Brown refused to publicly support gay marriage. But once Gavin Newsom gained the upper hand on the issue with Democratic primary votes, Brown used his office as the state's lawyer to suddenly become an advocate of gay marriage and attempt to subvert the twice expressed will of the people of California. As he enters the fifth decade of his political career, Jerry Brown seems determined to go down in history as the man who was on more sides of more issues than any other California politician."

Note that Poizner attacks both Newsom and Brown for their position on marriage equality while ignoring Antonio Villaraigosa completely. (The Los Angeles Mayor's reaction is here.) It is very clear that the Governor's race in 2010 will be a proxy fight about marriage equality.

CA-GOV: Brown Leads Money Race

Attorney General Jerry Brown has the most amount of cash on hand of all contenders for the 2010 election for California Governor, according to reports filed with Secretary of State.

The top fundraiser overall among likely candidates for governor was Attorney General Jerry Brown, a Democrat who collected $3.4 million. He was followed by fellow Democrats Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor, who raised nearly $1.2 million; and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who reaped about $1.1 million.

[...]

Of the five contenders, only Garamendi has filed the official paperwork to run for governor. Poizner, Campbell and Newsom have formed exploratory committees.

Others have talked about running but either haven't filed the necessary paperwork — such as former eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman, a Republican — or haven't raised much money, including state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, a Democrat. Or, they've done neither, such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat running for re-election to his current job.

Among the announced Republicans, State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has self-funded his campaign to the tune of nearly half a million dollars while former U.S. Representative Tom Campbell raised just over $200,000 in 2008. As for cash on hand as of January 1, 2009:

Brown has amassed a total of $4.1 million in his account, including the $3.4 raised last year, but reported spending only $173,000 in 2008. Newsom spent $641,000 last year and has nearly $719,000 in cash on hand. Garamendi spent nearly $557,000 and has $756,000 left. None of the three loaned their campaigns any money.

Campbell used up more than $40,000 last year and had a cash balance on Dec. 31 of about $173,000. Poizner, who leads the Republican field in endorsements, gave himself $460,000 in cash as well as a loan for $100,000; he spent nearly $592,000 and kept $739,165 in the bank.

Mad Professah is an elected member of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee and will be voting to choose the party's nominee for Governor in 2010.

Who do YOU think it should be?

Whitman Getting More Serious About Running For Governor

As MadProfessah reported last week, former E-Bay CEO and billionaire Meg Whitman is considering running for the California Republican Gubernatorial nomination. Sadly, she is a homophobe who supported Proposition 8, unlike her rivals State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Congressman and Stanford Law professor Tom Campbell.

Tuesday 365gay.com has more information about the moves Whitman is making to prepare herself for her foray into California politics.

The 52-year-old Republican plans to run in 2010 for the seat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is leaving but is not ready to make a formal announcement, said the person, who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke Monday on condition of anonymity.

Whitman made the decision while spending time with family over the holidays and will make the announcement official in four to six weeks, he said.

Henry Gomez, a spokesman for Whitman, said she stepped down from the boards of eBay, Procter & Gamble Co. and DreamWorks Animation SKG last week due to “personal reasons and time commitments.” He would not elaborate.

[...]

Whitman retired in March after 10 years at the helm. A billionaire, she retains a 2 percent ownership stake in eBay.

[...]

Whitman has donated money to candidates and causes in the past but was not particularly active in state politics while she led eBay. Little is known about her social views.

Whitman supported Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban that passed in November, according to the person who spoke about her political decision. Campaign finance records do not indicate she contributed money to that campaign.

I am sure the Log Cabin Republicans will wet their pants at the possibility of holding onto the Governorship with Whitman. Interestingly, if Diane Feinstein wins the Democratic nomination and Whitman wins the Republican nomination MadProfessah would vote for NEITHER.

I have no intention of voting for Dianne Feinstein ever again, for any position.

Meg Whitman Is A Homophobe?

Meg Whitman is considering running for the Governorship of California. The Republican Party is notoriously homophobic, although Arnold Schwarzenegger is in a different mode, he is termed out and must be replaced in 2010. In June of that year there will be gubernatorial (and legislative) primaries. On the Republican side State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has already announced he is running, and Log Cabin Republicans claim that he is a fiscal conservative but social moderate. Whitman, apparently wants to go in another direction:

She has made no broad announcements on the issue, but Whitman adviser Zak said she has told GOP gatherings in the last two weeks she supports the same-sex marriage ban.

[Tom] Campbell, a moderate Bay Area Republican, opposed and even wrote an op-ed for libertarian-leaning Reason.com making a conservative case against the initiative. Poizner has not taken a position.

All three Republicans fashion themselves as social moderates, which could leave the 2010 gubernatorial field open to a GOP entrant from the right. None of the three Republicans are openly supporting Proposition 4, the abortion notification measure.

Many Capitol watchers are not impressed. The 2010 California Governor's race should be very very interesting, perhaps on both sides of the aisle. Another question is whether there will be another same-sex marriage proposition on the ballot. Stay tuned!

Poizner Announces Run For California Governor

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, a Silicon Valley businessman who has previously spent vast sums of his private fortune to further his political career, announced the creation of an exploratory committee for the 2010 Gubernatorial Republican primary nomination.

Previously, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced his exploratory committee for Governor. Other Democrats expected to run are Antonio Villaraigosa, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and possibly U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein