(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)Recent polls show Villaraigosa, 73, wallowing at the bottom of the field, though none of the major Democratic candidates have an overwhelming edge. Since leaving the mayor’s office, Villaraigosa has enjoyed success in the lucrative private sector. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)He also worked for a few years for consulting firm Actum and briefly advised the Newsom administration on infrastructure projects. As L.A. mayor, he brought down gang crime through a program that used former gang members to broker truces. In the 2018 race for governor, Newsom won more votes than Villaraigosa in Los Angeles County.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 16, 2026 16:53 UTC