Tim Myers of OneRepublic poses for a photo at the Romp store opening on April 22, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Sacramento, California – Tim Myers, musician and founding member of the band OneRepublic, is trading his bid for Congress for a new campaign aimed at statewide office. Myers announced this week he will run for California lieutenant governor, stepping into a crowded Democratic field vying for a post that, while largely ceremonial, has long served as a political springboard.
Myers had initially launched a campaign to unseat Republican Rep. Ken Calvert in the Inland Empire. But that effort has quietly wound down — the campaign website is no longer active, though the committee remains open. Instead, Myers is now positioning himself as an outsider voice in a lieutenant governor’s race dominated by longtime Sacramento figures.
“Tim is running for Lt. Governor to fix a broken political system dominated by career politicians and special interests,” his campaign said in a statement. “He’ll bring a fresh, strong voice to the office… to ensure every Californian has the opportunity to chase their dreams.”
That blend of idealism and frustration isn’t new to California politics. From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state has a long history of welcoming celebrity candidates, particularly those who channel public dissatisfaction with entrenched political institutions. But unlike Schwarzenegger, who vaulted directly into the governor’s office during a recall election, Myers is entering a lower-profile race for a post that has little day-to-day authority. Still, the role has symbolic weight — current Governor Gavin Newsom and past Democratic governors have used it as a platform for statewide visibility and eventual ascension.
Myers, who left OneRepublic in 2007, now joins a field that includes seasoned Democrats with decades of policy and legislative experience. State Treasurer Fiona Ma, former State Senate President Toni Atkins, and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs are all in the race, competing for one of two slots in California’s top-two primary system. The June 2026 primary will send the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — to the general election.
Though Myers enters the contest with name recognition and a potentially fresh appeal to disaffected voters, the path ahead is steep. His rivals bring expansive networks, robust donor bases, and tested records in public service. The question is whether a well-known musician with a reformist message can gain traction in a race historically treated as a political pit stop — and whether voters, weary of institutional politics but uncertain of celebrity alternatives, are ready to try something new once again.
