CA-GOV 2018-Kevin Faulconer declines to run

[Mike Thick]

Honestly, I don't think even he could have won. Us Cali Republicans are in pretty bad shape, and outside of some kind of unprecedentedly ginormous Republican wave we probably won't win any statewide offices, let alone the Governorship.

[Mike Thick]

Honestly, I don't think even he could have won. Us Cali Republicans are in pretty bad shape, and outside of some kind of unprecedentedly ginormous Republican wave we probably won't win any statewide offices, let alone the Governorship.

Hey, maybe the CA Dems will put up the next Ed Fitzgerald. You never know.

This is what I always hope will happen, but there are just too many people here that will vote Democrat no matter what.

The only way I can see a Republican winning statewide is similar circumstances to Ohio 2014 -- a moderate Republican being put up against a Democrat who runs an awful campaign during a huge wave. Even then, it would be tough.

[Mike Thick]

Honestly, I don't think even he could have won. Us Cali Republicans are in pretty bad shape, and outside of some kind of unprecedentedly ginormous Republican wave we probably won't win any statewide offices, let alone the Governorship.

Look for California Democrats to make more gains in the next national Republican wave.

I hope someone better than DLC Gavin Newsom runs.

Funny. My Sanders obsessed husband loves Newsom.

I don't know if I'm expecting gains, per se, as CA Dems already hold all statewide offices and both Senaye seats, along with most swingy Congressional seats. But I am expecting a lot of D vs. D statewide generals and more D vs. D Congressional races than previously. I also think Democrats are likely to get back their State Legislature supermajorities and hold them, very soon.

[Mike Thick]

Newsom will be very strong in the general election. I doubt Faulconer feared Chiang.

Maybe Condoleezza Rice will run. She tied Kamala Harris in the runoff IIRC.

She would be a good candidate (although I have doubts even she could win), but Condi Rice will not run for anything, ever. Period.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/02/24/condoleezza-rice-is-the-gops-white-whale/

This is compounded by the fact that she has said she is satisfied with her academic career.

[Mike Thick]

Perhaps the mods could merge these threads?