Former Google Executive Lexi Reese Withdraws from 2024 Senate Race
Former Google executive Lexi Reese announced her withdrawal from the 2024 Senate race on Tuesday, citing a significant lack of funds as the primary reason. The decision comes just ahead of the crucial March primary, marking the end of a five-month-long campaign that aimed to bring a fresh perspective to California politics.
Reese, who previously held executive roles at American Express, Google, and Gap, entered the race in June as a Democrat. Despite injecting some of her own funds into the campaign, she struggled to gain the financial support needed for a first-time candidate to make a substantial impact in California, the nation’s most populous state.
The focal points of Reese’s campaign included addressing economic concerns, promoting economic opportunities, and tackling the rising cost of living. However, her inability to secure the necessary millions of dollars for nationwide voter outreach proved to be a formidable obstacle.
In a statement, Reese expressed her frustration with the exorbitant costs associated with political campaigns, calling for term limits and campaign finance reform. She emphasized the need to level the playing field so that aspiring candidates do not face insurmountable financial barriers.
“Career politicians have institutional, press, and party support that is very difficult to replicate as an outsider,” said Reese, highlighting the challenges faced by newcomers in the political arena.
Despite positioning herself as a “new candidate with a fresh message,” Reese failed to break into the top tier of candidates, which includes well-established Democratic figures like U.S. Representatives Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee.
Federal records revealed that, as of the end of September, Reese had raised over $1.8 million for her campaign, with more than $500,000 coming from her and her husband’s contributions. However, she concluded the month with approximately $700,000 in her campaign coffers.
In stark contrast, Representative Adam Schiff closed September with an impressive $32 million on hand, while Katie Porter had nearly $12 million available for her campaign. The staggering cost of running TV ads in the Los Angeles market alone, estimated at $2 million or more for a single week, underscored the financial challenges faced by candidates in California.
Looking ahead, the Senate seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands, as California has not elected a Republican senator since 1988. Notable Republicans vying for the seat include former baseball MVP Steve Garvey and attorney Eric Early, who previously ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general in 2022 and 2018 and Congress in 2020.
Lexi Reese’s departure from the race highlights the formidable financial hurdles faced by newcomers in California politics, raising important questions about the accessibility of political office and the role of money in shaping the political landscape.
