Democrat Gavin Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor known for groundbreaking pushes on universal health care, gay marriage and legal marijuana, swept to victory tonight in the race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown as California governor.
Newsom’s election marks the first time in more than 130 years in which a Democrat succeeded another Democrat for the office.
He will be sworn in this January to succeed Brown, 80, who is leaving office having served 24 years in statewide office, including 16 as governor.
The results reflect California’s deep-blue bent.
San Diego businessman John Cox, a Republican, failed to make his case to voters that Democrats are to blame for the state’s deep affordability problems, a pitch he’d hoped would appeal to Democrats and independents during a year in which Republican voter registration fell below 25 percent.
Newsom, 51, will take the helm of a state that is financially flush. In his long campaign for governor — he announced his candidacy in early 2015 — he made lofty promises, pledging to take “bold” action on early childhood education, health care and energy policy.
He also represents the potential to be a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 or beyond.
