Former GOP state lawmaker David Hadley announced Wednesday he is dropping out of the gubernatorial race two weeks after he jumped in. In an evening email to supporters, Hadley said he concluded that he could not win the race despite receiving encouragement since announcing his candidacy. The 52-year-old is a social moderate and fiscal conservative who some thought had the potential to galvanize the GOP establishment in next year’s gubernatorial race. The two remaining Republican candidates in the field are businessman John Cox and Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach). A spokesman for Cox cheered Hadley's decision as best for the state Republican Party on social media.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 20, 2017 01:53 UTC