Peter Thiel isn't running for governor of California, but Rosey Grier is

Peter Thiel.
(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

A spokesman for Peter Thiel is quashing rumors that the billionaire PayPal co-founder is planning on entering the California gubernatorial race next year.

There was speculation that Thiel, who supported Donald Trump during his presidential campaign and was recently revealed to be a citizen of New Zealand, would throw his hat into the ring, but Jeremiah Hall tersely told the Los Angeles Times in an email that "Peter is not running for governor." While there are several high profile Democrats already in the race — Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Treasurer John Chiang, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin — there is just one well-known name on the Republican side: Rosey Grier, the 84-year-old Los Angeles Rams legend.

After Grier ended his football career, he became a minister and social activist. He told the Times last month he plans to run for governor because "I think we can do a lot of good. I've spent my life serving my fellow man. I thought I would continue doing that."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.