No Republican can be elected to statewide office in California, right? Everyone knows that. The tarnished GOP brand repels voters.

But that’s not quite as certain an axiom as it was before last month’s election.

And termed-out moderate Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer, 53, of San Diego seems intent on testing the conventional wisdom by challenging Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s expected reelection bid in 2022.

“It’s time for a competition of ideas, and we’re not getting that in California,” Faulconer says. “One party controls every single branch of [state] government. It’s failing Democrats, independents and Republicans.”

Does Faulconer have a prayer?

“He’s a credible candidate,” says California Target Book editor Tony Quinn, a respected political analyst.

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