CA, US & World
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Concedes California Gubernatorial Primary Race on Election Night
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued an official concession statement on Tuesday evening, June 2, 2026, following the initial returns of California's highly competitive gubernatorial primary election. A prominent figure in state politics, Villaraigosa acknowledged that the vote tallies did not align with his campaign's goals and extended his formal congratulations and best wishes to the top two candidates advancing to the November general election.
In his election night address, Villaraigosa expressed immense gratitude to his family, friends, staff, and volunteers, while specifically highlighting the critical backing his campaign received from organized labor and various community organizations. The veteran Democrat served as the Speaker of the California State Assembly in the late 1990s before leading the city of Los Angeles as mayor from 2005 to 2013.
Reflecting on his motivation for entering the crowded 62-candidate field to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, Villaraigosa emphasized his deep affection for the state and his firm belief in effective governance. He highlighted his administrative track record in Los Angeles, noting that his tenure saw the city become the safest large metropolitan area in the country, alongside significant turnarounds in underperforming schools and the development of the nation's greenest port infrastructure.
Villaraigosa stated that he launched his gubernatorial bid fully convinced that California's most complex structural problems can be solved, drawing on his past executive experience. He noted that the campaign was designed to champion residents enduring the state's hardest economic realities, specifically pointing to young couples locked out of the housing market due to modern affordability barriers and families heavily impacted by the rising cost of living.
Issuing a direct challenge to his colleagues and representatives, Villaraigosa warned that California has reached a major inflection point. He called upon the leadership of his own political party to begin treating these economic and functional challenges with a high degree of seriousness to restore California as an economic and cultural benchmark.
Concluding his statement, Villaraigosa clarified that while he is stepping away from this specific electoral race, he remains fully committed to his public advocacy work. He urged his supporters to maintain their optimism, declaring that the state remains entirely worth fighting for and that his work in public service is not over.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
June 2, 2026
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