Ex-GOP lawmaker to run for governor
Republican Doug Ose, a former Sacramento-area congressman, is joining the already packed field to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown.
“I filed the papers this morning,” Ose said in a telephone interview Friday. “I’ve been on the phone all day, making calls to raise money.”
Ose, a successful developer, was elected to Congress in a suburban Sacramento district in 1998 and left office in 2005, making good on his promise to serve only three terms. He lost a primary battle to fellow Republican — and now congressman —Tom McClintock in 2008 and in 2014 was beaten by less than a percentage point by Democrat Ami Bera in an attempt to regain his old seat.
With those years of political experience, Ose knows exactly what he’s getting into with a run for governor in Democratfriendly California.
“There is absolutely no doubt that this is a big, big mountain to climb,” he said. “I’m not sure a Republican can raise enough money to run for governor in California.”
Ose said he’s been thinking about getting into the governor’s race for about two months, looking at his prospects, talking to likely supporters and party leaders, studying issues that are important to him and making sure his family is on board with a potential campaign.
It will be a race for the future of California, he said.
“I’ve got a different vision from the rest of this group” of candidates, Ose said. “I want to rebuild the California dream, and I don’t care who I have to work with to get that done.”
As a candidate, Ose said, he’ll be talking about issues like homelessness, mental health, traffic congestion, housing costs and schools.
“I want to know what our kids are going to do when you have to be a bazillionaire to live in California,” Ose said. If the state doesn’t fix its problems soon, “then all we can do is go to a different state, and I’m not willing to leave.”
Ose will be the third GOP candidate for governor, joining San Diegoarea businessman John Cox and Orange County Assemblyman Travis Allen. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Treasurer John Chiang and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin are the leading Democrats in the contest.
While Republicans around the state have been looking for alternatives to the little-known Cox and Allen, Ose insisted that had nothing to do with his decision to get in the race.
“I don’t know either of them, I’ve never met them, I’ve never talked to them,” he said. “I just decided this is something I had to do.”
It will be a week or two before Ose officially opens his campaign, but the decision has already been made, he insisted.
“I am serious about this,” Ose said. “I’ve told my business lieutenants not to call me because I’m going to be busy.”