Caitlyn Jenner, the Republican former Olympian and prominent transgender activist, announced on Friday that she would challenge Gov. Gavin Newsom of California in this year’s recall election. Ms. Jenner, whose candidacy represents one of the most prominent bids for public office by an openly transgender person in the United States, said she had filed initial paperwork to run. A recall election in the state could be confirmed this month after a petition against current governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, reached the number required to trigger a vote. Voters would be asked if they want Mr. Newsom to stay or another candidate.
A source involved with Jenner’s campaign said the leading transgender rights activist will run as a socially liberal and fiscally conservative Republican — a strategy she hopes will appeal to a broad swath of California voters who may be frustrated with the state’s progressive economic policies but remain to the left of the national GOP. “I think she has policy positions that align with right-of-center Republicans but also voters who fall outside of that category,” Jenner said. The race would come at a time of steep challenges for California. In addition to the pandemic, the state is likely to face another drought for the second time in less than a decade.
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