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Politics

Former State Schools Chief Enters California Governor's Race

Delaine Eastin is a former California superintendent of public instruction.
Delaine Eastin for Governor 2018/Facebook
Delaine Eastin is a former California superintendent of public instruction.

A new candidate for California governor has entered the ring. If elected, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin would be the state’s first female governor.

Eastin, a Democrat, is a former California superintendent of public instruction, winning statewide elections in 1994 and 1998. Before that, she served four terms in the state Assembly representing part of the Bay Area.

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She’s focusing her campaign on boosting education funding, protecting the environment and fighting for civil rights.

Eastin joins a crowded field of Democrats: Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Treasurer John Chiang and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

No Republican candidates have declared yet, but there’s talk of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer getting in the race. And some party officials are trying to get Bay Area venture capitalist – and prominent Donald Trump supporter – Peter Thiel to throw his hat in the ring.