Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach said Thursday he’s entering the 2018 contest that has largely been dominated by Democrats.
Allen says he’s running because Democrats have controlled California for too long, enacting burdensome tax increases and pushing policies that are soft on crime. Allen is leading a ballot initiative to repeal a gas tax increase passed earlier this year.
The numbers aren’t in Allen’s favor: Forty-five percent of California voters are registered as Democrats, while 26 percent are registered Republicans.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Treasurer John Chiang and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, all Democrats, have already raised millions for their campaigns. Businessman John Cox is the only other Republican in the race.
