Politics: Los Angeles mayor defies skeptics, says he may run for the White House

Eric Garcetti was sworn in for his second term as Los Angeles mayor in July, and before that, he served on the city council for 12 years.

• Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, says he's considering a run for the White House.
• Garcetti is a two-term mayor of the second-largest city in the US, and served on the City Council for 12 years.
• He pointed to President Donald Trump's election in 2016 and Barack Obama's elections in 2008 and 2012 as evidence that the rules of presidential politics have changed.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says he's considering a run for the White House, a move that would be unprecedented in national politics.

Garcetti confirmed in a New York Times interview this week that he is testing the waters for a presidential run, having completed a tour of several states this year while touting some of his accomplishments as the mayor of the second-largest city in the US.

Such a run would be a first in presidential politics because Garcetti has not yet served in public office at the state or federal level. He was sworn in for his second term as Los Angeles mayor in July, and before that, he served on the city council for 12 years.

Garcetti, 46, a Democrat and an infrequent critic of President Donald Trump, pointed to Trump's election in 2016 and Barack Obama's elections in 2008 and 2012 to argue that presidential politics no longer demand potential candidates have a resume stacked with extensive government experience. "The classic rules of American politics are dying if not dead," Garcetti told The Times.

"An African-American could never be president until one was, a TV reality star couldn't become president until one was," he said.

Obama served in the US Senate for two years before he ran for president. Trump had zero experience as a public servant before he launched his campaign in June 2015.

But, skeptics have said Garcetti has few accomplishments to draw upon as mayor of Los Angeles, and fewer still that would appeal to a national audience. The Democratic Party is still reeling from Trump's election, more than a year since he beat Hillary Clinton in a surprise victory. And so far, few potential candidates, save for former Vice President Joe Biden, have emerged as strong challengers in the 2020 race.

Eric Garcetti was sworn in for his second term as Los Angeles mayor in July, and before that, he served on the city council for 12 years. Read Full Story