CA-GOV: Buzz grows for possible Padilla California governor's run

[RandySF]

SACRAMENTO, California — The rumor mill is hitting overdrive that Sen. Alex Padilla is contemplating a bid for California governor — and it’s not just idle talk.

A prominent political entity in Sacramento is currently in the field polling the 2026 governor’s race with Padilla’s name included as a potential candidate, Playbook has learned.

Padilla is not ruling out a run, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Edgar Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the senator, pivoted to focus on the primary task at hand for California Democrats — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting measure, Proposition 50 — but notably, did not close the door on a gubernatorial bid.

“The senator is focused on passing Prop 50 this November,” Rodriguez said.




https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/26/buzz-alex-padilla-california-governors-run-00525154

[senseandsensibility]

1. There is some dude who kind of exudes a trumpian aura

who is running commercials on MSNBC as a candidate for Gov. of CA as a Dem. He has reddish, blond hair and is very in your face. But he absolutely ROASTS trump. One commercial is all about Epstein with pictures of trump and epstein. The other is about trump being a failed businessman and while he, (can't remember his name) supposedly is the businessman trumps wishes he was. Looks like he is trying to get out ahead of Padilla.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. The tech bros are getting scared that Katie Porter just might win

Her closest competitors have dropped out, and so the Silicon Valley oligarchs need to find a friendly face to enter the race.

Reminder: Padilla was one of the 16 Dem senators to vote Yes on the crypto deregulating GENIUS act.

We know that Gallego accepted $10 million in contributions from the crypto bros; does anyone know how much Padilla was given?

[Celerity]

5. 18 Democratic US Senators voted Yea on the final passge of the pro-crypto Genius Act

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00318.htm



YEAs -

Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Fetterman (D-PA)
Gallego (D-AZ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Kim (D-NJ)
Lujan (D-NM)
Ossoff (D-GA)
Padilla (D-CA)
Rosen (D-NV)
Schiff (D-CA)
Slotkin (D-MI)
Warner (D-VA)
Warnock (D-GA)

Not Voting - 2
Cotton (R-AR)
Kelly (D-AZ)

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Even worse. Nt

[Nixie]

3. Three posts in and Padilla is being accused of corruption .

Three posts in and Gallego is being accused of corruption.

Schiff was accused of corruption.

Let’s hope the other governor candidate mentioned in this thread has more to offer this giant state of California than calling people corrupt.

Padilla gained national recognition with his leadership during the initial trump invasion, so he doesn’t need to be disrespected by smearing him with banal questions of his morality. Time to focus on actual issues and current events, not raise phony suspicions of his motives.

[JI7]

8. Also young people are into Crypto with young democratic leaning men

into it the most. People keep saying to listen to young people but then don't like what they say on this.

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. Got a link to support that assertion?

I have seen no reporting that young Dem leaning men are most heavily into crypto, but have seen lots of reporting that those who are followers of the “Manosphere” (Joe Rogan, UFC, Jordan Peterson, etc) are. These young men are primarily right wing/libertarian/MAGA, not Dems.

[Nixie]

13. Exactly. I've seen the comments about young TikTokers also

who have monetized their accounts and they are called flakes. Crypto is turning into the new “Wall Street” smear, same as “she gave speeches.” Everyone had to stand back and be smeared with corruption nonsense over nothing.

In the meantime, the billionaire Wall Street crowd is in the White House, so obviously the corruption gaslighting has no legs. It’s just performance at this point.

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. If it walks like a duck

Why did 32 Dem senators vote no?

We know from financial disclosures and public reporting that Gallego took $10 million from crypto lobbyists. Did the other 17 Dem yes votes give their votes for free?

[Retrograde]

6. And if elected

he'll need to resign his senate seat, leaving it open for Newson to be appointed and then run for the full Senate term in 2028? Possible - and I like this scenario better than Newsom running for president.

But rumors are just rumors right now.

[msongs]

7. Padilla to governor, porter to senate? nt

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. Porter will never be appointed

She has ruffled too many high and mighty feathers,