Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a 60-year-old Democrat and one of the most prominent Latino politicians, gets asked a lot about his future these days. After eight years of leading the second-largest city, Villaraigosa must leave office at the end of June due to term limits.
So what’s next for Villaraigosa, who was the chairman of the Democratic National Convention last year?
In an interview on Bloomberg Television, Villaraigosa offered no hint of his political ambitions, saying instead that he’s interested in joining a university or a think tank or taking an (unspecified) job in the private sector. He didn’t mention the possibility of running for California governor or U.S. senator.
In any case, Villaraigosa’s options would be limited if Gov. Jerry Brown, a 74-year-old Democrat, opts to run for another term next year, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, a 72-year-old Democrat, runs again in 2016.
After President Barack Obama’s reelection last year, Villaraigosa’s name emerged in news reports as a contender for a Cabinet seat. He quashed the speculation with a Feb. 1 statement saying he was “firmly committed” to staying in Los Angeles and finishing his term.
