Los Angeles mayor endorses Villaraigosa for governor

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(The Center Square) – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has endorsed one of the city’s previous mayors, Antonio Villaraigosa, in the 2026 California gubernatorial race.

Bass announced her endorsement when she and Villaraigosa, Democrats who have known each other a long time, appeared together at a televised news conference Tuesday in the city’s Crenshaw District.

“I made the decision to endorse the minute Antonio Villaraigosa stepped in the race,” said Bass, who was supported by Villaraigosa when she ran successfully for mayor in 2022. “What we’re doing today is making it public.”

She said in a statement, reported on Studio City station KCAL-TV, that they have worked together to advance social and economic justice and that she believes Villaraigosa will stand up to the Trump administration and protect California.

Villaraigosa said he and Bass are like brother and sister.

“We’ve always understood that together we are stronger, not just us as individuals, but the communities we represent,” he said during the news conference, televised on Glendale station ABC7.

Before leading Los Angeles as its 41st mayor from 2005 to 2013, Villaraigosa served as the Assembly speaker in 1998-2000.

The primary for the governor’s race is scheduled for next June, and the field is crowded with candidates, most of them Democrats. The two candidates with the highest number of votes, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the November 2026 general election.

In addition to Villaraigosa, the Democrats in the race are U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (who represented Orange County in Congress), former California State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former state Controller Betty Yee, former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Diamond Resorts International founder Stephen J. Cloobeck.

The Republicans running for governor are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.