Caitlyn Jenner Is Officially Running for Governor of California

Caitlyn Jenner announced today she is running for governor of California. She released a statement on social media through her Caitlyn for California campaign announcing she has filed the necessary paperwork to enter the race. If elected, she would be the first transgender governor in the country.

"I have been a compassionate disrupter throughout my life, from representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the Olympics to helping advance the movement for equality," Jenner said in a statement. "As Californians, we face a now-or-never opportunity to fundamentally fix our state before it's too late."

Earlier this month, reports surfaced the former Olympic athlete and reality television star had been meeting with key political consultants and fundraisers with an eye on challenging embattled California Governor Gavin Newsom in a likely recall election later this year. Jenner is expected to run as a Republican.

"This isn't the California we know," Jenner said in the statement today. "This is Gavin Newsom's California, where he orders us to stay home but goes out to dinner with his lobbyist friend."

Jenner went on to declare she will travel the state in the "next few weeks" to meet fellow Californians and "hear their voices and finally get this state moving in the right direction."

Jenner gained a wider following after her marriage to Kris Jenner and appearance on the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians while still presenting as a man. She revealed she was a transgender woman in 2015 and changed her name the same year.

The former college football star and Olympic gold medalist turned television personality and transgender rights activist had initially supported President Donald Trump, but famously turned against his discriminatory policies and views on transgender rights.

It is unclear if Jenner has a base of supporters within either party, but she remained upbeat and said she "can't wait to lead" and "disrupt the status quo once again."

She concluded the announcement with a simple declaration.

"I'm in!"

RELATED | Out100: Caitlyn Jenner