Kevin Faulconer Announces Run For California Governor

SAN DIEGO, CA — Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Monday he will run for governor of California.

The 54-year-old Republican set himself up as a challenger to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has come under fire for his handling of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

California has “become the land of broken promises” where Newsom’s administration has failed residents, Faulconer said in a short announcement video released on his campaign website. He pointed toward a worsening homeless crisis across the state and the confusing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine as some of the reasons for his run.

“I’m running to make differences, not promises,” he said. “If we’re willing to think differently, to demand results, we can kick the insiders out and bring the outsiders in.”

Faulconer, who served as San Diego’s mayor from 2014 to 2020 after an eight-year stint on the City Council, said he intends to “clean up California” if elected.

It’s unknown if he will face Newsom later this year or in the 2022 election as Republican-led efforts to recall the governor continue to grow.

Supporters of the recall effort have until March 17 to obtain 1.5 million valid signatures from voters in order to trigger a recall election, the Los Angeles Times reported. Organizers claimed they have collected 1.3 million signatures so far.