‘State’s Big Issues: Do Democrats Have the Ideas and Resolve to Meet Them?’

JOHN CHIANG johnchiang.com

Age: 55

Elective offices: State treasurer (2015 to present), state controller (2007-15), state Board of Equalization (1997-2007)

Note: As state controller, Chiang attracted media attention — and the emnity of Sacramento politicians — by threatening to withhold legislators’ pay unless they passed a budget that was truly budget. He is counting on his self-effacing style to contrast favorably with his more polished, overtly ambitious opponents.

DELAINE EASTIN delaineforgovernor.com

Age: 70

Elective offices: State Assembly (1986-94), state superintendent of public instruction (1995-2003)

Note: Eastin made class-size reduction a priority as state superintendent and helped push the Legislature and Gov. Pete Wilson to provide the funding to make it happen. Since leaving office, she has remained a prominent advocate for public education.

GAVIN NEWSOM gavinnewsom.com

Age: 49

Elective offices: San Francisco supervisor (1997-2004), San Francisco mayor (2004-11), lieutenant governor (2011 to present)

Note: Newsom jump-started the national debate on marriage equality by sanctioning same-sex unions at San Francisco City Hall in open defiance of state law in 2004. He ran against Jerry Brown for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. He is the early front-runner in the polls and fundraising for 2018.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA antonioforcalifornia.com

Age: 64

Elective offices: State Assembly (1994-2000), Los Angeles City Council (2003-05), mayor of Los Angeles (2005-13)

Note: In the Assembly, he rose through the ranks to become Democratic leader and then speaker. He has been prominent in national politics, having served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign and chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.