Dean Florez drops lieutenant governor bid, endorses Newsom

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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s entry into the lieutenant governor’s race has shaken up the field, and set up a head-to-head matchup between Newsom and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn in the Democratic primary.

One of Newsom’s potential rivals, state Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter), has decided not to seek the job and has instead thrown his support behind Newsom.

Newsom also announced support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles), the former council president who served with Hahn for more than five years.

‘I support [Newsom] 110%,’ Padilla said. ‘He has the energy and vision to transform the job of lieutenant governor.’

Hahn has received several high-profile endorsements of her own, including support from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa earlier this week.

-- Anthony York