Thread: Republican Meg Whitman backs a Democrat for California governor Reporter Joe Garofoli

Republican Meg Whitman backs a Democrat for California governor

Joe Garofoli May 24, 2018 Updated: May 24, 2018 10:31 a.m.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa speaks during a debate in San Jose on May 8.Photo: Aric Crabb / Associated Press


Democratic gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa has picked up an unexpected backer: the 2010 Republican nominee for governor, Meg Whitman.

Some of his Democratic opponents promptly tried to turn it into a weapon against him.
Whitman, the billionaire former eBay CEO who spent $144 million of her own money on her failed run in 2010, is co-hosting a fundraiser Thursday night for Villaraigosa in Silicon Valley. A source close to Whitman whom she authorized to speak for her said, “Meg has endorsed Antonio because, although she is a Republican, she believes he’s the best candidate for the job. Meg believes that Antonio is stronger than Gavin (Newsom) on both the economy and education, which are both important issues.”

Villaraigosa and Whitman share some of the same views on education, particularly their support for charter schools. Joining Whitman at the fundraiser will be Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who has contributed $7 million to an independent expenditure group run by the California Charter Schools Association Advocates, which is working to elect Villaraigosa.

Their views on immigration, however, have diverged sharply. In 2010, Whitman portrayed herself “tough as nails” on illegal immigration, and has said she wanted to “prosecute illegal aliens and criminal aliens around the state,” along with the people who hire them. She has also called for an end to sanctuary laws that limit local cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Villaraigosa, on the other hand, has said the Trump administration is “militarizing our immigration enforcement and terrorizing vulnerable people and communities. ... We should focus on working with the immigrant community and implementing comprehensive reform.”

Fabien Levy, deputy campaign manager for John Chiang, one of Villaraigosa’s Democratic rivals in this year’s race, said, “It’s fitting that Republican billionaire Meg Whitman has joined up with Antonio’s Villaraigosa billionaire crew to put on a high-stake, high-dollar fundraiser in yet another attempt to buy this election.”Villaraigosa spokesman Luis Vizcaino chose to focus on the race’s front-runner in his response.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics...r-12939224.php

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