Jerry Brown Announces Campaign For Governor

SACRAMENTO -Democrat Jerry Brown has entered the race for California governor, giving the party an iconic candidate in a contest expected to be the most costly in state history.

The state attorney general, who served two terms as governor in the era before term limits, officially declared his candidacy on his Web site Tuesday. The announcement has been expected for months, while Brown was quietly raising millions of dollars.

Brown, who will turn 72 next month, is the only serious Democratic contender. He will face one of two wealthy Silicon Valley Republicans in the general election this fall: former eBay CEO Meg Whitman or state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

Brown says only a seasoned politician can find a way to solve California’s many problems.

In response, Republican Steve Poizner issued a statement:

“This election will be about the future of California, not the past. Our state needs bold, new conservative solutions that will jumpstart our economy and bring jobs back to California. We cannot fall prey to the same high-tax policies and special interest-run government that has led our state into a fiscal disaster. The next Governor will need specific economic solutions, like my plan for across-the-board tax cuts, and also be willing to stand up to the powerful unions who control Sacramento.”