TheLos Angeles Times reports that Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a Democrat who first ran for governor 26 years ago, on Thursday joined a growing list of 2010 contenders to succeed term-limited California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who served as governor from 1975 to 1983, and former state Controller Steve Westly are other Democrats eyeing the 2010 race. “Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s name also has been mentioned, and Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County has filed papers allowing her to raise money for a campaign.” Republicans lining up include “Steve Poizner, who succeeded Garamendi as state insurance commissioner in 2007;” former U.S. Rep;. Tom Campbell; and “two former executives of Silicon Valley companies: Meg Whitman, who was at EBay; and Carly Fiorina, who headed Hewlett-Packard.”

According to theDenver Post, Democrat Jared Polis “cleared the $5 million mark in personal contributions with a $1.6 million injection to his own campaign in the first three weeks of July, disclosures filed Thursday show.” Polis, a wealthy businessman, is locked in a heated Aug. 12 primary battle with Joan Fitz-Gerald, a former state Senate president, “who has argued Polis is trying to buy the election.” Also seeking the 2nd District nomination is environmentalist Will Shafroth. “Each of the candidates has raised more than $1 million in contributions, setting primary fundraising records for Colorado.” All are vying for the nomination to succeed Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., in the heavily Democratic, Boulder-based 2nd District. Udall is running for the state’s open Senate seat.