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After Measure L Defeat, Is Governor Run Next For Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — After the defeat of a measure giving the mayor of Sacramento more power, what is next in Kevin Johnson's political future?

There are only so many spaces to move in Sacramento politics. Days before Measure L failed at the ballot box, he told CBS13 the following:

"If it doesn't, I would have to dig really deep to see if this was the right thing for me and Sacramento moving forward."

Insiders say there is no chance he seeks a third mayoral term after the measure's loss.

Former supervisor Sandy Smoley knows Sacramento politics as well as anyone, and says Johnson would only have his sights set on one seat.

"I think he could run for governor, and I think that might be something intriguing for him," she said. "What's he going to do? Go be in the Assembly? One of 80?"

Measure L's defeat could also change the political positioning of outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. he's showed interest in running for mayor, but the failure of the measure could change that.

"I don't know whether Darrell will want to leave a lucrative, private-sector job, to be a weak mayor in a city manager form of government," she said.

And if they choose against running for Sacramento mayor, the man who ran the campaign against Measure L, City Councilman Steve Hansen, could become a mayoral candidate himself.

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