Sun Is Setting on Once-Golden Calif.

Newsom's decision makes Jerry Brown virtual lock for Dem nod

(NEWSER) - Citing his responsibilities as San Francisco mayor and as a new father, Democrat Gavin Newsom withdrew today from the race to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as California governor. Despite the heavyweight endorsement of Bill Clinton, Newsom has had trouble raising money; his departure leaves state attorney general, and former governor, Jerry Brown virtually unchallenged for the party’s 2010 nomination. More»

(NEWSER) - Sure, California's going through a little financial Armageddon, but that's not keeping candidates from lining up to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is prevented by term limits from running in 2010. In the New York Times magazine, Mark Leibovitch takes a look at the eclectic field, which includes Jerry Brown ("yes, that Jerry Brown"), San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ("political thrill-seeker"), and former eBay chief Meg Whitman (who promises to provide "adult supervision" for once). More»

Stumps for one-time nemesis Jerry Brown, rallies Dems

(NEWSER) - Bill Clinton gave dazed Democrats a swift kick last night, telling California voters to get out the vote, lest they commit "malpractice on your own future." Stumping for onetime nemesis and would-be governor Jerry Brown, the former president told a UCLA rally to give President Obama and Democrats time to finish the job: "It is not enough to have voted for a new president if you will not help him govern and stick behind the members of Congress who stood for him." More»

Says California can't afford another novice like Schwarzenegger

(NEWSER) - Jerry Brown entered the race for California governor today, vowing to use his experience as a former two-term governor to "get California working again." Brown, a Democrat and current attorney general, used the unpopularity of Arnold Schwarzenegger to criticize Republican candidate Meg Whitman. Like Schwarzenegger before her, the former eBay CEO is running as an outsider to politics, notes the Los Angeles Times . More»

Despite one ruinous turn as governor, Jerry Brown is front-runner

(NEWSER) - California is a financial mess, hamstrung by some late-1970s leftovers: some ill-considered “low-impact liberalism” and a ballot measure that makes raising taxes nearly impossible. Both came during the governorship of Democrat Jerry Brown, he of the motto “Maybe by avoiding doing things you accomplish quite a lot”—and the leading candidate to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger in next year’s election. More»