Elections 2010

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Sunday deflected questions about a possible run for governor, stressing that he is focused on guiding the city through troubled economic times. "I love Los Angeles. And I'm focused on this job," Villaraigosa said on CNN's "State of the Union with John King." "I want to get people back to work. I want to continue to build on the foundation that we've done in the past." After he won reelection, Villaraigosa said he was not ruling out a bid for governor and promised to be clear about his intentions.

Wisconsinites may not have much use for advice from an out-of-state news organization, but coming from a place that has undergone its own share of political troubles as a result of recall elections, we humbly submit this counsel to Badger State Democrats who are launching a recall drive against Gov. Scott Walker: Don't do it. Walker's election in 2010 was among the most polarizing of the political shifts of that tumultuous year, when anger over...

John A. Boehner has been the "Hell, no!" face of the Republican Party in Congress for years, but he appeared a more gracious presumed speaker of the House on Wednesday, even as he stood firm on the promises of smaller government that the GOP rode to a majority. Boehner is well aware that his is a story of second chances: The Ohio congressman has been in and out of leadership positions, as has his Republican Party ? which angry voters routed from the majority just four years ago. As Boehner is about to ascend to the job he covets, his ability to lead raucous House Republicans emboldened by "tea party" activists will test even this most old-school of Washington hands.

John A. Boehner has been the "Hell, no!" face of the Republican Party in Congress for years, but he appeared a more gracious presumed speaker of the House on Wednesday, even as he stood firm on the promises of smaller government that the GOP rode to a majority. Boehner is well aware that his is a story of second chances: The Ohio congressman has been in and out of leadership positions, as has his Republican Party ? which angry voters routed from the majority just four years ago. As Boehner is about to ascend to the job he covets, his ability to lead raucous House Republicans emboldened by "tea party" activists will test even this most old-school of Washington hands.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who first ran for governor 26 years ago, announced his third Democratic bid for the office Thursday, saying his decades of experience in state government would allow him to vanquish problems that have eluded Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "California is not a movie set, and gridlock is simply not acceptable," Garamendi, 63, said in an announcement outside the Capitol, faulting Schwarzenegger for failing to resolve the state's fiscal problems. "This is real life.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who built a national reputation pushing cutting-edge -- and controversial -- policies on same-sex marriage, healthcare and other issues, launched an exploratory bid for governor Tuesday. His move placed the 40-year-old, two-term mayor out in front of a large Democratic field eyeing the race to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is barred by term limits from running again in 2010.

Nancy Garland calls herself Ohio's "listening legislator" and as she knocked on doors in suburban Columbus she got an earful: about water bills, a new bike trail, the cost of police cruisers, construction on busy Hamilton Road. She listened, nodded, touted her work on a bill to ban texting while driving and made a brief reelection pitch, saying that after one term in the statehouse she was just getting started. "Keep in touch," the Democrat told a woman last week, after discussing schools for her autistic child.

Wisconsinites may not have much use for advice from an out-of-state news organization, but coming from a place that has undergone its own share of political troubles as a result of recall elections, we humbly submit this counsel to Badger State Democrats who are launching a recall drive against Gov. Scott Walker: Don't do it. Walker's election in 2010 was among the most polarizing of the political shifts of that tumultuous year, when anger over...

Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) told the chamber's No. 2 Democrat Tuesday during a closed-door meeting that he would not resign over questions surrounding his appointment by and fundraising for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. Sen. Richard J. Durbin, who is the senior senator from Illinois as well as assistant majority leader, said that Burris also refused to reveal whether he planned to seek election in 2010.

In an effort to lessen the controversy surrounding neighborhood council board elections, the City Council approved a major change Tuesday in how votes are overseen and tabulated. Future balloting for neighborhood councils will be conducted by the city clerk's office, which conducts other municipal elections, instead of the department that oversees the local boards. After a transition period beginning next year, the city clerk will begin overseeing all neighborhood council elections in 2010.

Nancy Garland calls herself Ohio's "listening legislator" and as she knocked on doors in suburban Columbus she got an earful: about water bills, a new bike trail, the cost of police cruisers, construction on busy Hamilton Road. She listened, nodded, touted her work on a bill to ban texting while driving and made a brief reelection pitch, saying that after one term in the statehouse she was just getting started. "Keep in touch," the Democrat told a woman last week, after discussing schools for her autistic child.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Sunday deflected questions about a possible run for governor, stressing that he is focused on guiding the city through troubled economic times. "I love Los Angeles. And I'm focused on this job," Villaraigosa said on CNN's "State of the Union with John King." "I want to get people back to work. I want to continue to build on the foundation that we've done in the past." After he won reelection, Villaraigosa said he was not ruling out a bid for governor and promised to be clear about his intentions.

Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) told the chamber's No. 2 Democrat Tuesday during a closed-door meeting that he would not resign over questions surrounding his appointment by and fundraising for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. Sen. Richard J. Durbin, who is the senior senator from Illinois as well as assistant majority leader, said that Burris also refused to reveal whether he planned to seek election in 2010.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who first ran for governor 26 years ago, announced his third Democratic bid for the office Thursday, saying his decades of experience in state government would allow him to vanquish problems that have eluded Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "California is not a movie set, and gridlock is simply not acceptable," Garamendi, 63, said in an announcement outside the Capitol, faulting Schwarzenegger for failing to resolve the state's fiscal problems. "This is real life.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who built a national reputation pushing cutting-edge -- and controversial -- policies on same-sex marriage, healthcare and other issues, launched an exploratory bid for governor Tuesday. His move placed the 40-year-old, two-term mayor out in front of a large Democratic field eyeing the race to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is barred by term limits from running again in 2010.

"NYPD Blue" actor Esai Morales will square off against SAG-AFTRA co-President Ken Howard in an election this summer to determine who will lead Hollywood's largest entertainment union. SAG-AFTRA said late Friday night that Howard and Morales had registered to run in elections that will begin next week to select a new president for the union representing actors, recording artists, broadcasters and other performers. Morales, a former SAG board member and star of "La Bamba," is part of a slate of candidates known as Membership First that strongly opposed the merger of the former SAG and AFTRA unions a year ago. PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times Howard, who was first elected as SAG's president in 2009, championed the merger.

L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who faced a tough battle for reelection amid scandals in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, plans to annouce his retirement, law enforcement sources told The Times. Baca's decision comes a month after federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against 18 current and former sheriff's deputies accused of beating jail inmates and visitors, trying to intimidate an FBI agent and other crimes following an investigation of corruption inside the nation's largest jail system.