In this Jan. 18, 2020, file photo Caitlyn Jenner speaks at the 4th Women's March in Los Angeles. Jenner has been an Olympic hero, a reality TV personality and a transgender rights activist. Jenner has been consulting privately with Republican advisers as she considers joining the field of candidates seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a likely recall election later this year. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
By Michael R. Blood
Republican Caitlyn Jenner said Friday she will run for governor of California, injecting a jolt of celebrity into an emerging campaign that threatens to oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office.
Jenner — an Olympic hero, reality TV personality and a transgender rights activist — said in statement posted on Twitter and on an accompanying website that she has filed initial paperwork to run for the post.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a likely recall election this year, though election officials are still reviewing petition signatures required to qualify the recall for the ballot. Several other Republicans have also announced plans to run.
In a statement, Jenner called herself “a proven winner” and the only candidate “who can put an end to Gavin Newsom's disastrous time as governor.”
The 71-year-old celebrity activist described herself as “economically conservative, socially progressive” in a People magazine interview last year.
She immediately stands out in an emerging field that so far has failed to attract a nationally known contender. However, Jenner is untested as a candidate and little is known about her positions on critical issues facing the state, from the coronavirus pandemic to managing the economy.
Her run would come nearly two decades after the ascendancy of Arnold Schwarzenegger, another Republican who used his Hollywood fame as a springboard to California's highest office in a 2003 recall election.
If the recall qualifies for the ballot, as expected, voters would be asked two questions: first, whether Newsom should be removed from office. The second would be a list of replacement candidates to choose from, if more than 50% of voters support removing Newsom from office.
The effort largely has been fueled by criticism of Newsom’s handling of the pandemic.
Other Republicans who have announced their intention to run include former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose and businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in the 2018 governor’s race.
Jenner made headlines in recent years with her ties to former President Donald Trump, who remains broadly unpopular in California outside his GOP base. Trump lost the heavily Democratic state to Joe Biden in November by over 5 million votes.
Jenner supported Trump in 2016 but later criticized his administration’s reversal of a directive on transgender access to public school bathrooms. She also criticized Trump after he said transgender people would not be allowed to serve in the U.S. military.
Lagoona Bloo, a New York City-based drag queen, joined Cheddar News to talk about Pride Month and her music (that’s TOTALLY giving Britney vibes by the way). "Something that drag queens don’t really do is sing," Bloo said. “I wanted to create music that I loved as a kid." The artist also touched on the serious matter of the spate of anti-LGBTQ laws being enacted across the nation.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is partnering with eye-drop brand Pataday to help those struggling with allergies — such as himself. The Super Bowl LVI MVPjoined Cheddar News to discuss his own struggle with seasonal allergies. “It's right when football's starting back up, I feel like I get so excited to finally be back playing the game, and then, you know, spring comes around and completely knocks me out," he said.
Buy now, pay later — or point-of-sales loans — might be making it difficult to get a handle on your credit. These companies typically do not report payment history during transactions, so without this data going to credit scoring companies, it makes it difficult to know how many loans a customer still needs to pay. Experts are recommend paying off these debts as soon as possible.
Host Foodgod takes viewers to the world's most interesting food spots on Discovery+’s “Foodgod," and now he is partnering with Hertz to bring food trucks to car rental customers at Los Angeles International Airport. Formerly known as Jonathan Cheban, the TV personality, food influencer, and Kardashian friend joined Cheddar News to discuss his life as the ultimate foodie and his partnership with Hertz. “I picked out two amazing food trucks. One was Korean barbecue tacos and one was poutine," he said. "People that were coming out or waiting for their cars were able to come to eat this and have this amazing experience because you know with Hertz, it's about the moments that matter," he said.
Body odor is natural, but it’s not exactly welcome… Thankfully, we have all kinds of deodorants and antiperspirants to help eliminate the stink. But believe it or not, there was a time when people weren’t so ready to accept these solutions. In fact, it took a pretty savage marketing campaign to convince us we had a problem at all.
Cannabis World Congress and Business (CWCB) Expo returned to the Javits Center in Manhattan at a very decisive time for New York's cannabis industry. Chloe Aiello reports.
Just in time for Pride Month, Hulu’s "Fire Island" is a rom-com about a group of queer friends on a weeklong vacation at the iconic vacation spot. Actor and comedian Margaret Cho joined Cheddar News to talk about her role in the upcoming film alongside two Asian American leads Bowen Yang and Joel Kim Booster. "I think it's really important to acknowledge how important comedy is because comedy is really a barometer of how society is feeling about topics and situations and the changing nature of our society," she said. "Humor is a way to look for hope in the situation so that you can survive it."
It's About Time: Help Stop the Clock on Meningitis is a campaign calling on parents to seriously consider the meningitis vaccine for their pre-teens and teens. Advocate and actor Tiffani Thiessen joined Cheddar News to talk about her partnership with the campaign. "I think we're so honed in on our kids getting their vaccinations from baby to like year five or six, and then we forget sometimes that there's vaccinations that need to happen when there are older,” she said. The "Saved by the Bell" star also discussed the upcoming third season of her comedy clip show "Deliciousness."
