It looks like that the idea of eccentric billionaires running for high public office may be catching. Politico is reporting that Peter Thiel, the gay, Silicon Valley tycoon with libertarian leanings who supported Donald Trump is thinking of running for governor of California. That his prospects are daunting is to put the matter mildly. California is a deep blue state that is dominated by the Democratic Party and which went for Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly in the last election, giving her along with New York State much of her edge in the popular vote.
On the other hand, he provides the formerly Golden State a much-needed perspective as it struggles under the misrule of Democrats.
For example, the recent news that California’s signature infrastructure project, a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is wracked with billions in cost overruns came as no surprise to anyone outside of Sacramento. California’s madcap environmentalist culture pretty much guarantees that any large-scale project of its kind is going to be mired in red tape and court battles. Thiel, with his business background, might be just the person to straighten that out.
In a larger sense, California is in deep trouble because of an exodus of its middle class, not rich enough to live there and not poor enough to enjoy the state’s generous social services.
California is in danger of becoming a state of super-rich Silicon Valley moguls, Hollywood actors and directors, and their servants. Thiel might be a force for lifting the burdensome tax and regulatory regime that is driving its people away in droves.
One thing in Thiel’s favor, Jerry Brown, the aging leftist current governor, is term limited out.
On the other hand, plenty of Democrats such as former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, and state Treasurer John Chiang would like to take his place.
Few people give Thiel much of a chance of prevailing if he does run for governor of California. On the other hand, not too many people thought Donald Trump would be raising his right hand soon and pledging to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States either.
