Typically, it’s the affirmative presidential announcements that make headlines. But L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s confirmation Tuesday that he will not run for President in 2020 is a notable exception — if only because his candidacy was once thought to be a forgone conclusion.
"I have decided not to throw my hat into the ring to run for president in 2020,” the mayor said Tuesday night. “This was not an easy decision given the extraordinary times that we live in.”
“I realized that this is what I am meant to do, this is where I want to be and this is a place where we have so much exciting work to finish,” he added.
Garcetti is under enormous pressure to solve a homeless problem that many say is spiraling out of control. An ongoing FBI investigation into possible corruption at City Hall, which has already ensnared one of Garcetti’s key aides, may have been the last straw for Garcetti's presidential ambitions.
With the 2020 Democratic field starting to resemble Piccadilly Circus, the mayor's decision may prove wise. Eight Democrats have already declared their candidacy, including California Senator Kamala Harris, and many more are expected to throw their hats into the ring soon.