Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor, is running for California governor again after finishing third in the primary and failing to advance in 2018.
Villaraigosa is pitching himself as a problem solver as he served in the State Assembly as well as in the office of the Los Angeles mayor. Before entering politics, Villaraigosa was a union organizer.
Who is Antonio Villaraigosa
Villaraigosa became the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles in over 130 years. During his tenure, he expanded the LAPD force and made significant investments in public transpiration.
Prior to becoming mayor, he served as a state assemblymember, eventually becoming the Speaker of the State Assembly in 1998. Villaraigosa has touted his experience in balancing the state budget and making investments in education and public safety.
Villaraigosa first ran for LA mayor in 2001 but was defeated by James Hahn. The second time was a charm: After winning the run-off election, he became the 41st mayor of Los Angeles.
The East LA native has been open about growing up in a rough environment surrounded by violence and poverty. He was expelled from one high school but later graduated from another.
After attending a community college, Villaraigosa transferred to UCLA where he received his bachelor’s degree. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Peoples College of Law, which lost its accreditation in 2023.
What are Antonio Villaraigosa’s proposals?
One of the main campaign pledges is housing affordability: Villaraigosa promises to issue up to $25 billion in revenue bond to provide second mortgages for middle-income families who want to buy new single-family homes that are worth between $600,000 and $1,000,000.
Villaraigosa also says he will ensure the bonds will be repaid entirely by homebuyers so California taxpayers are protected.
The former LA mayor claims his administration contributed to lowering violence crime by 48% in Los Angeles. As a gubernatorial candidate, Villaraigosa also advocates for fully funding police departments while investing in community-based crime prevention efforts.
Villaraigosa is one of the few mayoral candidates who discuss cryptocurrency as a campaign pledge. He said because governments tend to fall behind technology, they have failed to act on cryptocurrency and its pitfalls. Villaraigosa said as governor, he would “protect the right of Americans to choose to use crypto, foster innovation and create job.”
What does Villaraigosa say about immigration?
Similar to other Democratic candidates, Villaraigosa has criticized the Trump administration for its immigration raids across the state. He said, on his first day in office as governor, he would sign emergency executive orders to hold ICE accountable.
As part of his ICE accountability plan, Villaraigosa said California would cooperate with ICE if federal agents complete 40 hours of California peace officer training on use of force, and search and seizure.
He’s also pushing for health care for all Californians regardless of immigration status.
What are controversies surrounding Villaraigosa?
After leaving the LA mayor post, Villaraigosa was involved with a number of business ventures, including Herbalife Nutrition.
The multi-level marketing company eventually reached a $200 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after being accused of running a pyramid scheme. Because Herbalife was accused of targeting Latino communities, critics and activists condemned Villaraigosa’s involvement with the company.
In 2010, a formal investigation was launched after he accepted over 80 free tickets to entertainment and sporting events, including Lakers games, the Oscars and the Governor’s Ball. He eventually settled and paid $42,000 in fines.