Larry Elder to raise funds for Congress, skip Newsom rematch

Republican Larry Elder announced Tuesday he will bypass a possible rematch with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom this year but is forming a fundraising committee that will give him a visible platform from which to build national connections and consider a future run for office.The nationally syndicated talk radio host emerged last year as the GOP’s star candidate in the failed recall election that sought to remove Newsom from office. Since that time, there has been widespread speculation about his political future and Elder had been coy about potentially launching another campaign to oust Newsom, who is seeking a second term this year.In a statement, Elder pointedly left open the possibility of a future state or national campaign. While skipping a rematch with Newsom, he will use his Elder for America PAC to channel funds to House and Senate candidates around the country, a familiar strategy for potential future candidates looking to build up name recognition and political connections.With control of Congress in play, Elder is planning to travel the country to campaign for GOP candidates.”While I may not know what the future holds for me politically, our campaign’s ability to attract millions of votes and millions of dollars in a very short time demonstrates we have a message that resonates with Americans, and I believe we can put that to good use,” Elder said.While bypassing another run against Newsom, he said he was “determined to fight for important issues in places where we can make a real difference.” “The radical left’s woke agenda is destroying America,” he said. “At the federal level, Democrat leadership is hell bent on ruining the economy, either through massive inflation or draconian mandates for workers and employers.”His decision to avoid another showdown with Newsom was not surprising, given California’s strong Democratic tilt. Republicans have not won a statewide race in the state since 2006, and Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in the state by nearly 2-to-1.Though the election is months away, Newsom appears well positioned at this juncture to claim a second, four-year term. A dominant victory also could increase speculation about a possible White House run.So far, the potential GOP field appears thin. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who failed to break out of the single digits in the recall election and finished far behind Elder among potential replacement candidates, is considering a run. Businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in 2018 and picked up 4% of the vote among replacement candidates in the recall, said Tuesday, “I’m not ruling it out.” An unusual set of circumstances conspired last year to leave Newsom imperiled in the recall, including public angst over long-shuttered schools and businesses during the pandemic, a massive unemployment benefits fraud scandal and fallout from the disclosure that he attended a birthday party with friends and lobbyists at an opulent restaurant while telling state residents to spurn social gatherings and stay home for safety.In the end, Newsom comfortably beat back the recall drive. Elder easily finished first among potential replacement candidates,…

Read More: Larry Elder to raise funds for Congress, skip Newsom rematch