Gavin Newsom to enter lieutenant governor’s race

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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will announce Friday that he is running for lieutenant governor, people who have been contacted by him say.

Newsom, a Democrat, has been busily lining up big-name support and donors to make the statewide run.

He has called elected officials and potential donors to inform them he is in the race. Sources familiar with Newsom’s plans say he will unveil a list of endorsements that includes many of the state’s top Democratic leaders. They requested anonymity to allow Newsom make the announcement.

Newsom has formed a fundraising committee for the run, and the first checks for his new statewide bid were reported Thursday. He reported receiving nearly $18,000 from three donors Thursday. He received $6,500 apiece from Mark and Susie Buell, owners of the Esprit clothing company and longtime backers. He also reported receiving $4,950 from Peter Ragone, his former press secretary.

On Wednesday, Newsom took out papers to run for the office from the San Francisco County elections department and paid a $2,600 fee. When asked if Newsom was planning to announce his candidacy Friday, spokesman Jason Kinney said, ‘You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.’

-- Anthony York in Sacramento