California Governor’s Race Shifts as Harris, Kounalakis Say They’re Not Running

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What’s happened since former Vice President Kamala Harris said she’s not running to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s next governor? Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who received early funding and an unofficial endorsement from Nancy Pelosi, said on Friday that she’s not running either. The announcement has again scrambled the political calculations of California’s gubernatorial hopefuls. We’ll talk with KQED’s politics team about early campaign rumblings, funding and top issues likely to define the California governor’s race. And we’ll hear from you: what kind of governor do you think California needs right now? Guests: Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Scott Shafer, senior editor and co-host of Political Breakdown, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:14.6	Here's the truth about AI. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into. Service Now puts AI to work for people
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1:05.7	Coming up on forum, another shakeup happened in the California governor's race Friday,
1:10.3	when Lieutenant Governor
1:11.4	Eleni Kuna Lachas said she was dropping her bid to succeed Gavin Newsom.
1:16.1	The announcement is again scrambling the political calculations of those seeking the state's
1:21.1	highest office after former vice president Kamala Harris also said she's not running for governor.
1:29.0	We'll talk with KQED's politics team about the shifting campaigns and the top issues likely to define the governor's race.
1:35.1	What kind of leader do you think California needs? listeners, join us. Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
1:52.3	Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kuna Laka, said Friday she'll drop out of the race for California governor and pursue the Treasury.
1:59.0	This after she received a courtesy call from Kamala Harris and an
2:02.1	unofficial endorsement from Nancy Pelosi and became the top Democratic contender after the former
2:07.2	VP announced she was not going to seek the office. So what does it all mean for the dozen or so
2:12.7	other Democrats and Republicans vying to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom? We get analysis from KQED's politics team and from you, our listeners,
2:21.0	who do you hope emerges from the crowded field?
2:23.9	What qualities are you looking for in California's next governor?
2:28.3	Joining me is Scott Schaefer, senior editor with the KQED Politics and Government Desk
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