It's official: Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor of California.
The former Olympic athlete and reality TV star has officially filed paperwork
with the California Secretary of State's office to challenge Gov. Gavin Newsom in
a likely recall election. The signature deadline for the recall is next week,
and it is expected to reach the million signature threshold needed to trigger the election.
Jenner said in a statement Friday, "California has
been my home for nearly 50 years. I came here because I knew that anyone,
regardless of their background or station in life, could turn their dreams into reality."
She went on to say, "I am a proven winner,
and the only outsider who can put an end to Gavin Newsom's disastrous time as governor."
In her statement announcing the bid, Jenner criticized "over-restrictive" COVID-19 lockdowns,
the inability of some districts to reopen schools, and the state's high taxes.
Jenner's run for governor of California mirrors that of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.
Both Jenner and Schwarzenegger were well-known public figures who challenged an embattled
Democratic incumbent facing a recall election. Unusually for Hollywood, both are well-known
Republicans, though more moderate in their policies than the national party.
The campaign says a formal announcement is expected in the next few weeks, after
Jenner makes a barnstorming trip across the state.
For more on this story, go to THR.com. For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.