Will Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions collide with those of the state’s other Democratic climber-in-waiting, Attorney General Kamala Harris?

Both Newsom, 47, and Harris, 50, are A-list candidates for high office and share the same political consultant. No other Democrats are as well known in California, and Republicans, who lag 13 points behind on voter registration, are all but out of the picture for statewide office for the foreseeable future.  But Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor, and Harris, the former San Francisco district attorney, share many of the same supporters and donors — one reason Democrats worry about a demolition derby on their next political lap.

Although neither will comment on their plans, both have options:

  • Gov. Jerry Brown begins his last term in January, meaning the 2018 field for governor will be wide open.
  • Sen. Barbara Boxer is 74, her term is up in 2016, and she isn’t raising money. She says she’ll decide next year whether she’ll run again, but speculation is she’ll opt out. California’s other Democratic senator, Dianne Feinstein, is 81, and like Boxer is about to be relegated to the minority in a Republican-run Senate. She has broadly referred to her last years in office, but hasn’t said whether she’ll seek another term in 2018.

“These two (Senate) seats have been tied up for a generation — and once they become free, there’s no term limits,” said Democratic strategist Garry South, who ran Newsom’s thwarted 2010 gubernatorial campaign. “So there is going to be a lot of pent-up demand, and a lot of Democrats will fight for the brass rings.”

Indeed, Newsom and Harris will have no shortage of competition for any of the “big three” seats. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, his predecessor Antonio Villaraigosa, Secretary of State-elect Alex Padilla and Treasurer-elect John Chiang are some of the more ambitious Democrats in the state.

Party insiders have also talked up state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, former state Controller Steve Westly, Southern California Rep. Xavier Becerra and former Rep. Jane Harman, along with potential wild cards such as billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.

Still, the conversation always starts with Newsom and Harris.

http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gavin-Newsom-and-Kamala-Harris-War-or-peace-in-5940420.php