After an epic back and forth, reality TV star and former Olympic athlete, Caitlyn Jenner, has filed the initial paperwork to run for governor of California and will officially announce her bid later today, according to her campaign.
"Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision" and that "for the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people," Jenner said in a statement.
Jenner's campaign site is already up and running -- and ready for donations.
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Jenner, 71, a trans woman, "is very socially liberal,” her adviser told Axios. "She's running as someone that's socially liberal and fiscally conservative."
In February, Jenner's manager, Sophia Hutchins, said her client "has never considered running for governor and is very happy doing the work that she is doing to promote LGBT rights and spending time with her 18 grandchildren and 10 children."
According to several outlets, the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star is reportedly in talks with political consultants.
Politico reports that Jenner is working with Ryan Erwin, a former top official at the California Republican Party who had roles on Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign. Axios reports her team includes: Tony Fabrizio, the top pollster on Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, and Tyler Deaton, president of Allegiance Strategies. Additionally, Steven Cheung, a former Trump White House and campaign communications hand who worked on Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2003 recall campaign.
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In a recent poll conducted by Nexstar Media Group‘s six California Television Stations along with Emerson College, Californians are split on their feelings about Governor Newsom, just as the recall efforts are underway.
Newsom is up for re-election in 2022.
Former Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) told Politico that Jenner would be a formidable contender given her celebrity status.
But Mike Murphy, a longtime California-based Republican strategist points to those whose celebrity worked against them.
“I learned from the rather amazing and Robert Altman-esque candidate list from the last recall election in 2003 not to take too much of the pre noise very seriously. I think it would most likely be a stunt candidacy, but we’ll see,” said Murphy, who advised bodybuilder and Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful run for governor.
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