Two top contenders for governor of California stumped in Fresno on Tuesday.
Coincidence or not, Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa and Republican John Cox were in the same city at the same time.
Villaraigosa touted his latest endorsement from Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
Meanwhile, Cox met with his base at Fresno County Republican Headquarters.
Villaraigosa Warns Against Cox Vote
“I think a vote for John Cox is a vote for Gavin Newsom. That’s pretty clear.”—Antonio Villaraigosa
The two made their cases on why voters should pick them.
“I think a vote for John Cox is a vote for Gavin Newsom. That’s pretty clear,” Villaraigosa said at a noontime news conference in front of Fresno Police headquarters.
Cox Responds to Villaraigosa
“A vote for me is a vote for me in the November elections. … I think Mr. Villaraigosa has it all wrong, as far as that goes.” —John Cox
Unsurprisingly, Cox vehemently disagreed when asked to respond to Villaraigosa.
“Not at all. A vote for me is a vote for me in the November elections,” Cox said.
“It is a vote for getting a state that is enjoyable and livable and has opportunity. A vote for me is to a vote to make sure people have better schools, better roads, that we don’t waste money in government, that we have a lower tax burden. A vote for me is a lower gas tax as well. I think Mr. Villaraigosa has it all wrong, as far as that goes.”
Villaraigosa: Bridge Between Dems & GOP
Villaraigosa made the case that he can work with both political parties.
“Look, I think most people in the Valley, and frankly a lot of people in this state, think our politics are broken,” Villaraigosa said. “They are tired of the screaming on both sides. They are looking for a uniter. That’s what I am. I work with Republicans. I work with a broad cross-section of people.”
According to the latest polls, both men are looking up at the front-runner, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.
AG Candidate Bailey Appears With Cox
Attorney General candidate Steven Bailey, a retired El Dorado County Superior Court Judge, appeared with Cox on Tuesday.
Bailey, who is endorsed by the California GOP, is running second in the polls behind Democratic incumbent Xavier Becerra.
