Newsom Wins Lt. Gov Nomination

Polls close at 8 p.m.

The race for lieutenant governor for the Democrats is like the Giants-Dodger rivalry.  And in this game the Giants won.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom beat Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn in the race for the statewide office. Just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night Hahn conceded the race.

"I want to congratulate Gavin Newsom on running a good, clean campaign. He has done some groundbreaking work as mayor of San Francisco and I know that he will bring that experience to Sacramento to shake things up. I will be supporting him in November, and I hope that you will join me," Hahn said in a released statemnt.
 
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Hahn bleeds both Dodger and Democrat blue, while Newsom is a bit fluorescent with his shiny hair and shiny white teeth.
 
Neither had statewide recognition, but are well known and well liked in their separate sand boxes.

Newsom took an early lead and kept it.  He was ahead 57 to 31 percent with more than a third of the votes counted.

The SoCal vs NorCal Race gave extra attention to an office that doesn't do much other than take over when the governor is out of town.  The lieutenant governor also sits on the UC Board of Regents, CSU Board of Trustees, Ocean Protection Council, the California Emergency Council, and is chairman of the State Lands Commission.  Oh, and it can be a stepping stone for someone who hopes to one day become governor.
 
Newsom, 42, is best known politically for his stand on same sex marriage, his messy split with his first wife and his failed attempt to make any ground during his run for California governor.  He got lots of national attention back in 2004, when he announced he would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He officiated at the first wedding himself by marrying a well-known lesbian couple. He grew up in San Francisco.  He graduated college from Santa Clara University in 1989 with a B.A. in political science. If he wins the election, he would likely stay in San Francisco, because the lieutenant governor does not have to live in Sacramento.
 
Among Newsom's endorsements were fellow political heavyweights from San Francisco, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
 
Hahn comes from a family political dynasty.  She has a strong pro-labor record. She is the sister of former Mayor James Hahn, the daughter of former L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and a former teacher.
 
The current person at the helm of the office is a Republican. Able Maldonado was just recently confirmed by state lawmakers and hopes to keep the title for four more years.  In a very blue state, that will be a hard to do.

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