‘I’m a fighter who wants to turn the state around’: Caitlyn Jenner opens up about taking on Newsom and running for California governor in her first interview since announcing her run and says the border wall must be secured
- The former Olympian and reality TV star spoke to Sean Hannity on Wednesday
- Jenner, 71, announced she was running for governor of California on April 23
- She is taking on the current governor, Gavin Newsom, in a recall election
- Newsom is challenged after 1.6 million Californians signed a recall petition
- Under California law, 1.495 million signatures are needed for a recall election
Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor of California to ‘turn the state around’, she said on Wednesday, insisting that being a political outsider is helpful in her battle to defeat Governor Gavin Newsom.
The 71-year-old former Olympic athlete and reality TV star spoke to Sean Hannity on Wednesday, in her first interview on the race.
Jenner, who has never held political office, surprised many when she announced on April 23 that she was taking on the embattled Democrat.
Caitlyn Jenner spoke to Sean Hannity on Wednesday night to discuss the race for governor
He is facing a recall election, after the 1.495 million-signature threshold on a petition for his recall, launched in February 2020, was easily passed.
Jenner described herself as ‘a fighter’ who wants the best for her state.
‘I want to take that same fight, that same spirit, go to Sacramento, surround myself with some of the smartest people out there – I am an outsider. I understand that – smartest people out there, because now I’m in a race for solutions.
‘I need to find solutions to be able to turn this state around.
‘I absolutely love this state. I’m a fighter. Always have been.’
Jenner said that she would support resumption of the border wall with Mexico, describing it as a useful tool in stemming migration.
‘I am all for the wall, I would secure the wall,’ she said.
‘We can’t have a state, we can’t have a country without a secure wall.
‘You have two questions here. One is stopping people from coming in illegally into the state.
‘And then the second question is, what do we do with the people that are here? We are a compassionate country, okay? We are a compassionate state.
‘Some help, I mean, some people we’re going to send back, okay, no question about that. But I have met some of the greatest immigrants into our country.’
Jenner also addressed her role as a transgender icon.
On Saturday, Jenner said she was opposed to trans girls competing in sports teams that match their gender identity – a topic which has become a political flashpoint among conservatives across the country.
‘This is a question of fairness,’ Jenner told TMZ.
‘That’s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls’ sports in school. It just isn’t fair. And we have to protect girls’ sports in our schools.’
Jenner soon drew backlash from LGBTQ groups and later tweeted: ‘I’m clear about where I stand. It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools.’
The sporting star told Hannity that she embraced the idea of her as a role model.
‘For me as a transwoman, I think role models are extremely important for young people,’ she said.
‘Trans issues, people struggle with big time, our suicide rate is nine times higher than the general public.
‘And for me to be a role model, for them, to be out there.
‘I am running for governor of the state of California, who would ever thunk that? We’ve never even had a woman governor.’
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