Caitlyn Jenner Running for California Governor
Caitlyn Jenner has announced she is running for California governor.
The former Olympic athlete and reality TV star will run as a Republican in the Democratic stronghold state.
A recall election in California could be confirmed this month after a petition against current governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, reached the number required to trigger a vote.
Voters would be asked if they want Gavin Newsom to stay or another candidate.
According to the Axios news site, Caitlyn Jenner has put together a team that includes some of former President Donald Trump’s advisers.
“Californians want better and deserve better from the governor,” a statement from Caitlyn Jenner said, confirming the news on her Twitter account on April 23.
“For too long, career politicians have over-promised and under-delivered. We need a leader with the vision and resolve to see it through,” she added.
Caitlyn Jenner promised that her campaign will be one of “solutions” and provide a “roadmap back to prosperity to turn this state around”.
She added that she will formally launch her campaign at a later date.
Should the recall election go ahead, it would be the fourth governor recall in US history.
Gavin Newsom has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic. As infections started to fall, he came under criticism from business owners for still enforcing restrictions.
Caitlyn Jenner described herself as a “proven winner” in her statement, adding that she is the “only outsider who can put an end to Gavin Newsom’s disastrous time as a governor”.
The former athlete, previously known as Bruce Jenner, has been described as the highest-profile American to come out as transgender.
Bruce Jenner came out as transgender in 2015 in an interview with broadcaster Diane Sawyer on ABC, and said the star said she had been wrestling with her gender since childhood.
The former athlete won a gold medal at the Montreal Games in 1976.
Before transitioning, Bruce Jenner was married to Kris Jenner and the pair had two daughters, Kendall and Kylie. The family were stars of the hit reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Caitlyn Jenner said her step-daughter Kim Kardashian had been a big supporter of her transitioning.
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California is not a stranger to celebrities running for governor.
Arnold Schwarzenegger won the 2003 recall election, beating Mary Carey and former child actor Gary Coleman.
If she won, Caitlyn Jenner would be one of a small group of transgender Americans to hold such a high-profile role.
In 2020, Sarah McBride became the first transgender state senator in the US after she won her race in Delaware during the 2020 elections. And she was not the only transgender candidate to make history during last year’s election.
Vermont’s Taylor Small, 26, was elected to the House of Representatives, while, in Kansas. Stephanie Byers became the first trans person of color to be elected to a state legislature.