Guest:

Antonio Villaraigosa, Former Mayor of Los Angeles

Guest Bio:

Antonio Villaraigosa is the former Mayor of Los Angeles and former Speaker of the California State Assembly. A longtime public servant, and now Democratic candidate for Governor, Villaraigosa has built his career around education reform, economic growth, and restoring opportunity in California.

Show Summary

The California Dream once meant opportunity, homeownership, and a better future for the next generation. Today, many Californians feel that dream slipping further out of reach.

In this episode of State of Gold, Jon Slavet sits down with Antonio Villaraigosa to discuss the state’s political climate and what it will take to restore opportunity in California. The former Los Angeles Mayor shares his perspective on the Governor’s race, the challenges facing moderate voices in a polarized political environment, and why he believes California needs leaders focused on results rather than ideology.

Villaraigosa also outlines his priorities for fixing California’s struggling education system, addressing housing affordability, cutting red tape that stifles business growth, and restoring the promise of the California Dream for the next generation.

Chapters

01:02 – Should Candidates Drop Out of the Governor’s Race?

03:45 – The Political Center vs. The Extremes

07:21 – The California Dream and Why It’s Slipping Away

09:27 – Housing Costs and Economic Opportunity

11:52 – Public Sector Pensions and Fiscal Responsibility

17:10 – Fixing California’s Education System

21:51 – Why Transparency and Accountability Matter

23:13 – Spending, Deficits, and the State Budget

24:28 – Why Villaraigosa Opposes the Billionaire Tax

28:54 – Cutting Red Tape to Grow the Economy

31:35 – Climate Goals vs. Infrastructure Reality

34:34 – Rapid Fire: Fixing California’s Schools

35:06 – Leaders He Admires in California History

35:38 – Restoring the California Dream

Connect with Antonio Villaraigosa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntonioVillaraigosa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonioforcalifornia
Twitter: https://x.com/AVillaraigosa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Antonioforcalifornia
Campaign Site: https://www.antonio2026.com/

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