Gavin Newsom Unveils California Governor Bid on Twitter

It's official- running for Gov of CA. Wanted you to be the first to know. Need your help. Check out video: http://tr.im/iOCN and ReTweet

"We've gotten things done in San Francisco by putting politics aside and focusing on finding solutions to tough problems," the 41-year-old said in a statement announcing his candidacy. "State government is failing because the politicians in Sacramento spend all their time fighting each other instead of fighting for Californians. We can't keep returning to the same old tired solutions and expect a different result."

Newsom said that to broaden his appeal beyond the San Francisco Bay area, he plans to highlight his background as a successful businessman — before becoming mayor, he founded a wine store that he parlayed into a string of restaurants — and as a politician who has been fiscally responsible. For several months, he has been crisscrossing the state and meeting with voters in markedly less liberal areas such as Stockton and San Diego.

Among Republicans, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman - two wealthy Silicon Valley-based technology executives - are still raising money through exploratory committees, as is former San Jose Rep. Tom Campbell, who is also from Silicon Valley.