Campbell, the last Republican to represent Silicon Valley in Congress, doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes Republicans made in the 2016 primary. Republicans were unable to unite behind a candidate, which led to two Democrats being thrust into the general election, thanks to the relatively new primary system where the top two candidates advance regardless of party.

“I see the 2018 race for Governor headed toward a disaster, when it could be a major rebirth of the Republican party,” Campbell wrote to other Republicans just after the June primary. “The disaster would be if, like the U.S. Senate race just completed, 12 Republican candidates all run, none of them strongly supported, and the Democrats place the top two candidates who go on to November.”

In describing what he wanted in a candidate, Campbell pitched a platform built on five pillars: Fix roads and build water storage, delegate decisions on government employees’ compensation to a civil service commission that’s free of political influence from public employee unions, protect Prop 209 (which barred ethnic and gender preferences in the public university admissions process), protection of Prop 13 (which capped annual property tax increases), and increase school choice.

“The vast majority of California Republicans can unite behind a few very important principles, leaving the points that divide us to one side,” Campbell wrote.

“We need to find a candidate for Governor in 2018, and support her or him strongly and early, who shares the principles I’ve identified, who is not divisive,” Campbell added. In a follow up interview with CalWatchdog on Wednesday, Campbell did not offer specific candidates but said he was actively recruiting and he had not planned to run.

The comment about divisiveness is surely a nod to the 2016 Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. In August, Campbell announced he would leave the party in protest if the nomination was not vacated (which of course it wasn’t).

Campbell, a professor of law at Chapman University in Orange, served in Congress twice, from 1989 to 1993 and then from 1995 to 2001. In the interim, he served in the state Senate.

He also ran for Senate three times. He lost to Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein in the 2000 general election. And he lost in the Republican primaries in 1992 and 2010.

So far, the two major candidates for governor are Treasurer John Chiang and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, both Democrats. 

Treasurer John Chiang made it official that he would be running for governor after announcing he was “strongly leaning towards running” back in February. If these things matter, Chiang drew 81 retweets and 109 likes by 5 p.m.

It’s official. I have opened a committee to raise funds for Governor. Hope to count on your support! #chiang2018 https://t.co/Grg4hVxK33

— John Chiang (@JohnChiangCA) May 17, 2016

Chiang is the second high-profile Democrat to announce his intentions for the state’s most powerful position. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom filed his paperwork in February 2015 and has $5.4 million in his account. While that’s a formidable head start, especially more than two years from the election, Chiang could carry over $3.2 million from his treasurer’s account.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Los Angeles announced that he’d be running for Treasurer, drawing 15 retweets and 38 likes. Gatto had previously opened an account for lieutenant governor and is sitting on $2 million. 

I'm in! I will be a candidate for Treasurer in 2018.

— Mike Gatto (@mikegatto) May 17, 2016

Fiona Ma, the chairwoman of the Board of Equalization broke the news later in the day. So far, Gatto is winning in both Twitter activity and campaign funds, as Ma only received five retweets and four likes and has a modest half million in her Board of Equalization account. 

Proud to announce my run for State Treasurer in 2018. I hope you will endorse me & join the #MaSquad! Thank you! https://t.co/lItULwZTaK.

— Fiona Ma (@fionama) May 17, 2016