California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is buying Facebook ads to promote his campaign for governor–nearly three years before the 2018 general election.
Newsroom’s campaign has reportedly paid Facebook Inc. nearly $73,000 for online advertising between July and December of last year, according to the Sacramento Bee.
So far, the 48-year-old Democrat has more than $8 million available for his campaign war chest. He reportedly ended 2015 with $5.4 million cash on hand and will also carry over approximately $3 million from his lieutenant governor’s campaign account.
This past October, Breitbart News reported on an early Field Poll showing Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa neck-and-neck in terms of voter support to replace Jerry Brown. Brown is serving an unprecedented fourth term as governor of California.
Other potential Democratic candidates for governor include billionaire and climate change champion Tom Steyer, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, state Controller Steve Westley and Treasurer John Chiang.
On the Republican side, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer are possible candidates.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz.