Republican Mayor of Fresno Ashley Swearengin has decided against running for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic firebrand Barbara Boxer in 2016.
Swearengin reportedly made the announcement on Saturday, according to the Fresno Bee. Her adviser Tim Clark told the Sacramento Bee “She’s letting people know this weekend that she’s decided against a run,” ahead of the state Republican Party’s convention in Sacramento.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris was the first person to announce her candidacy for the 2016 election and has yet to face any major opposition from the Republican Party for the seat. Former Secretary of State under the George W. Bush Administration Condolleezza Rice had been polling as an automatic frontrunner for the position, but she has not expressed interest in the post.
Swearengin had unsuccessfully run for state controller in the 2014 general elections. A recent poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times in conjunction with the University of Southern California Dornsife revealed that among 9% of registered voters that were surveyed, only 19% could identify Swearengin.
Harris reportedly received 28% in the polls, the Bee notes. Felloe Democrat and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was flirting with the idea of running, announced last week that he would not run. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom will likely endorse Harris and appears to have his eye on Governor Jerry Brown’s post once he announces his retirement.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz
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