Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympic and celebrity transgender activist, is investigating a run for California Governor against Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who, according to people familiar with her thinking, faces a possible recall election later this year. She currently tends to run when an election is being held, people said.
Ms. Jenner, a longtime Republican, is being advised by Brad Parscale, Donald J. Trump’s former campaign manager, according to a person familiar with their discussions. Mr. Parscale wouldn’t manage Ms. Jenner’s campaign but leads her to whom to hire for key roles.
Ms. Jenner is also reported to work with Caroline Wren, a prominent GOP fundraiser who served as a senior advisor to Trump’s presidential campaign last year and whose name appears on a permit for events leading up to the January 6 riot at the Capitol. According to Axios, Ms. Wren was affiliated with Ms. Jenner through a Republican nonprofit that worked on LGBTQ issues.
The California Secretary of State is expected to announce soon that Newsom’s recall has officially qualified for an election. The recall organizers say they have exceeded the 1.5 million required signatures. Such an election would likely take place later in the year.
So far, efforts to replace Mr. Newsom do not seem to reflect the 2003 California recall election that overthrew Democrat Governor Gray Davis and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite criticism of Mr. Newsom’s handling of the pandemic and other controversies he faced, a recent poll found that only 40 percent of the state’s voters would support a governor’s recall.
Mr Newsom is also supported by the fact that no great Democrat has joined the race. While Ms. Jenner has name recognition, she would be a first-time candidate, and the other Republicans expected to run are not considered very likely.
If she runs, Ms. Jenner’s previous connections with Mr. Trump would likely complicate her offer given his deep unpopularity in the state. She supported Mr Trump early on when he ran for president, but dropped her support in 2018 after his administration repeatedly attacked transgender rights.
Another person with ties to Mr. Trump’s world, Ric Grenell, who is briefly called The acting director of National Intelligence, Trump allies say, is considering running his own run for governorship.
