By Scott Shafer | Originally Posted on KQED
Talk show host Larry Elder, the so-called “Sage from South Central,” is the latest Republican to throw his hat in the ring in the recall election to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Born in Los Angeles, Elder is the son of a Marine who grew up in the Jim Crow South. He describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially moderate,” but is also a big supporter of Donald Trump and a regular commentator on Fox News. Supporters say Elder can parlay his larger social media presence and lively personality to become a top-tier candidate on the second half of the recall ballot. Elder was in San Francisco this week and spoke to KQED Politics Editor Scott Shafer about his candidacy.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Scott Shafer: What brings you to San Francisco?
Larry Elder: Well, I’m going to go up and down the state. I’m going to go to Sacramento. I’m going to the Central Valley. I’m going to go to San Diego. I’m going to be the governor of California. And as a result, I don’t want to be perceived as just an Angelino. I care about the entire state.
On your website, you’re referred to as the “Sage from South Central.” What does that mean to you?
It means great alliteration! I actually gave myself that name. It’s just kind of a tongue-in-cheek kind of thing. I think that I’ve got common sense. I think I’ve got good judgment.
You were born and raised in LA. You’re African American. How would those experiences affect the kind of governor you’d be?
One reason I’m running is because I went to Crenshaw High School (in LA). And when I went there, everybody graduated on time. I’m not saying everybody could do math at grade level, but I didn’t know anybody who couldn’t. I picked up the L.A. Times a couple of years ago, (there was a) front-page article about Crenshaw High. Only 3% of kids can do math at grade level. Yet you are mandated if you’re within a geographical area of that school to send your kid to a school where only 3% of kids can do math at grade level. It’s ridiculous.
I support school choice. And the studies on school choice have shown that it certainly improves the education of the student, the graduation rates of the student improves the reading scores and math scores. It even improves the quality of the public schools because they don’t want to lose the students. So that’s one of my big issues, school choice.
And this governor is totally beholden to the teachers union. They’re the largest under his campaign. They adamantly oppose school choice. And you add to that the rising crime, the rising homelessness. And I had to get into this. Maybe, just maybe I can do something about this.
