Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to Visit Iowa, Test Presidential Waters

In the absence of an official announcement, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appears to have confirmed his intention to run for president in 2020, or beyond, this week.

According to David Siders, Politico’s California correspondent, Garcetti was seen meeting with the Democratic chairs of Iowa and New Hampshire in Long Beach, California this weekend, and reportedly said he plans to visit Iowa in March. Garcetti was attending a meeting of the Association of State Democratic Committees.

Politico also reported that the March Iowa event would be with a carpenters’ union at their training center. Garcetti told Politico that he will “try to” go, depending on his schedule. “My main job is being mayor,” he reportedly said.

Iowa is among several swing states, and holds the first caucuses in the primary process for both parties, with fellow swing state New Hamprhisre holding the first primary. Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin are also swing states, and of particular importance during presidential election years.

Garcetti, a staunch advocate for sanctuary city policies, is scheduled to serve as mayor until 2022. He also set up a non-profit organization, Accelerator for America, last year with several other mayors, union and business executives. The group is focused on investing in technology and innovation.

Garcetti announced in October that he would not run for governor of California in 2018.

Over the last year, he has traveled to Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Wisconsin — to list a few states. In 2017 alone, he reportedly “logged 112 days, or nearly one-third of his time, away from California,” according to the Los Angeles Times.