Republican San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who has been lobbied intensely by GOP leaders to run for California governor, on Friday rejected the idea and vowed to serve out his second term at City Hall.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and state Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte had urged Faulconer to run.
As a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, Faulconer was largely seen as the GOP's strongest potential gubernatorial candidate, and one who could help Republicans in down-ballot races if he was at the top of the ticket in the 2018 election.
But Faulconer nixed the idea in a Facebook post Friday afternoon.
"I care about our state and I am deeply honored that so many are strongly encouraging me to run for governor. It's a testament to the people of San Diego, and the progress we've made to create a fiscally responsible, prosperous city that is moving in the right direction. I made a pledge last year to serve out my second term as mayor, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," Faulconer said in the post.
When pressed about his future political plans during his successful re-election campaign last year, including a possible run for governor, he vowed to serve out his entire four-year term as mayor.
The governor's race already has attracted a handful of Republican candidates, but none with the political stature of Faulconer. They include conservative Orange County Assemblyman Travis Allen and Rancho Santa Fe venture capitalist John Cox. Speculation is mounting that former state Assemblyman David Hadley plans to announce a run.
In a state where Democrats have a 19-point advantage in voter registration, GOP candidates running for governor face a difficult task.
They also will face a cadre of Democratic heavyweights in the race, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang.
