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Two candidates for California’s second-highest job were virtually tied in the race for lieutenant governor as votes trickled in early Wednesday.
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State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a Democrat, and former state legislator Republican Gloria Romero were leading a tight pack of mostly Democratic hopefuls with nearly 20% each. Newsom cabinet official Josh Fryday followed with about 14%.
The lieutenant governor is mostly a ceremonial position with a lukewarm reputation in Sacramento. But the No. 2 job in the state has been used as a slingshot to the governor’s office before, drawing in four major candidates eager to replace Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who terms out this year.
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