A Few of Your California Candidates for Midterm 2018 Elections
Los Angeles County Sheriff
Jim McDonnell (incumbent)
Republican
History: Second in command under Chief of Police Bill Bratton, Chief of the Long Beach Police Department, LA County Sheriff (current).
Endorsements: LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey, The LA Times.
Quote: “Four years ago I was elected Sheriff, to take over a Department in crisis. I’m proud to report that we’ve been able to identify talent from within the LASD, as well as outside the organization, where appropriate, to form an executive team that has been able to restore confidence in the department as one of our nation’s premier law enforcement agencies.”
Alex Villanueva (challenger)
Democrat
History: doctorate in public administration, retired sheriff’s lieutenant
Endorsements: LA County Deputies Union, LA County Democratic party, Kevil De Leon, CHIRLA, LA Sentinel.
Quote: “I am running for Sheriff to bring this community together so everyone can feel safe, because public safety depends strongly on building trust between the community and the Sheriff's Department.”
California Senator
Dianne Feinstein (incumbent)
Democrat
History: First woman mayor of San Francisco, first woman elected Senator of California, first woman member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and first woman to be ranking member of the Committee.
Endorsements: LA Times, LA Sentinel, Sacramento Bee, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Nancy Pelosi, California’s National Organization for Women, Equality California
Quote: “I'll never stop fighting to keep dangerous weapons of war off our streets.”
Kevin De Leon (challenger)
Democrat
History: worked for the National Education Association and California Teachers Association, served in California’s state assembly, and was elected by his colleagues to lead the Senate in 2014, making him the first Latino in that position in over a century.
Endorsements: Daily Bruin, La Opinión, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Tom Steyer, Alex Villanueva, California College Democrats, California Young Democrats.
Quote: “I think you need fighters in Washington D.C. to fight against a president who has no soul… This is a battle for America’s soul. You need people on the front lines, not on the sidelines, who are playing country club rules with the Republicans.”
California Governor
Gavin Newsom
Democrat
History: Former San Francisco Mayor, current Lieutenant Governor.
Endorsements: LA Times Editorial Board, San Francisco Chronicle, Equality California, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris.
Quote: “If you’re looking for someone to be bold and courageous, lean into issues, change the order of things, I’m committing myself to that cause as the next governor.”
John Cox
Republican
History: John Cox is a businessman, not a politician. He is a Certified Public Accountant, built his own business which is a $200 million enterprise and serves as a board member of the San Diego United Service Organizations Inc.
Endorsements: Los Angeles Daily News, California Peace Officers Association, San Diego Police Officers' Association.
Quote: “With a little luck and hard work, I’ve built a successful business… Entitled politicians and the Sacramento special interests who fund them — they’ve rigged the game, trading favors and enriching themselves, while millions of forgotten Californians have been left behind.”