Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat running for California governor, argued Saturday that his party cannot pin all of the state's problems on President Trump. Speaking on MSNBC's "The Weekend: Primetime," he labeled Trump a "threat to our democracy" but quickly pivoted to criticize policies in Sacramento.
"We can't put everything on Donald Trump," Villaraigosa said. "We have the highest homelessness in the United States of America. The highest gas prices, the highest utilities, the highest home prices. People can't afford rent. And those happened under Democratic policies."
Villaraigosa, who has positioned himself as a centrist in a crowded field, described his campaign as a "stink bomb in the elevator" challenging party orthodoxy. He stressed the need for Democrats to appeal to "the middle," particularly on fiscal issues like a proposed billionaire tax, which he opposes.
He pointed to the state's budget trajectory under Democratic leadership. "Jerry Brown left us with a surplus, a $300 million surplus," Villaraigosa recalled. "We've had perennial deficits. The state government has grown by 36,000 employees, and DMV is open three days a week in some places. The next governor's going to have to live within our means the way I did when I was mayor."
The former mayor voiced support for a structural overhaul of California's tax system, citing the nonpartisan Berggruen Institute's Think Long Committee for California. He argued that a billionaire tax would drive wealthy residents out of the state, undermining revenue. "Move these people out of the state," he warned.
Advocates for the billionaire tax—which would impose a one-time 5% levy on the net worth of California's 200 billionaires—say they secured enough signatures for the November ballot. The measure aims to fund healthcare for middle- and low-income residents. Nearly every gubernatorial candidate, including Governor Gavin Newsom, opposes it, with only progressive Tom Steyer backing the plan.
Villaraigosa's critique comes amid a competitive primary. A recent Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey shows him at 4%, trailing San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's 8%. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra leads with 19%, while Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer are tied at 17%. The field reflects broader tensions within the state party, as candidates grapple with issues like affordability and growing financial anxiety under Trump's economic policies.
The former mayor's willingness to blame Democratic governance for California's woes marks a sharp contrast with rivals who focus on Trump. His message resonates with voters frustrated by high costs and bureaucratic inefficiency, but his single-digit support suggests an uphill climb. As the race tightens, Villaraigosa's call for fiscal restraint and structural reform may test whether centrism can break through in a deeply blue state.
