• Politics

5 Things You Need to Know About Antonio Villaraigosa

2 minute read

Speculation is heating up that former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa might run for an open Senate seat in California.

So far, Democratic Attorney General Kamala Harris is the only candidate who has officially announced a bid for the seat that Sen. Barbara Boxer will vacate in 2016. But Villaraigosa, also a Democrat, has been actively exploring a run, taking meetings and seeking advice from people such as his successor, current L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.

If Villaraigosa ran, it would set up a major fight between two Democrats in one of the biggest, most expensive blue states in the country — a prospect that many national Democrats hope to avoid. With other top contenders — billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom — also opting out, it could be the difference between a cakewalk for Harris or a real dogfight.

Here are five things you need to know about Villaraigosa:

1. His last name is a combination of his and his ex-wife’s. He was born Antonio Villar, and her name was Corina Raigosa. They joined their last names to create Villaraigosa.

2. Villaraigosa first ran for mayor in 2001 and lost. Two years later he won a seat on the city council and finally won the mayor’s office in 2005.

3. He has failed the bar exam four times (and never ended up passing).

4. He developed a benign tumor on his spine when he was a teenager that causes him recurring pain and has required two surgeries.

5. He has four kids.

Photos: Meet the People Who Might Try to Replace Barbara Boxer

Annual MLK Day Parade Marches Through Los Angeles
Eric Garcetti is the mayor of Los Angeles. He’s the city’s first elected Jewish mayor and the youngest in over 100 years.David McNew—Getty Images
Senate Holds Hearing On U.S. Credit Market Crisis
Neel Kashkari ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in the 2014 California gubernatorial election. As Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability from 2008 to 2009, he oversaw the country’s response to the 2008 financial crisis.Joshua Roberts—Getty Images
Key Speakers At The Bloomberg Washington Economy Summit
Carly Fiorina is the former CEO of Hewlitt-Packard and ran unsuccessfully for a Republican Senate seat from California in 2010.Andrew Harrer—Bloomberg/Getty Images
2014 Variety Power Of Women Presented By Lifetime - Show
Kamala Harris is the current attorney general of California. Jason Merritt—Getty Images
2014 Carousel of Hope Ball Presented by Mercedes-Benz - Red Carpet
Antonio Villaraigosa was the mayor of Los Angeles before Garcetti, serving from 2005 to 2013.Michael Buckner—Getty Images
Sheryl Sandberg - book presentation
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and the author of "Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead."Britta Pedersen—AP
California State Controller John Chiang Interview
John Chiang is the California State Controller.David Paul—Bloomberg/Getty Images
Bobby Shriver Declares for Commissioner
A member of the Kennedy family, Bobby Shriver is a businessman and former Santa Monica City Council member who just lost a bid for an open seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.David Hume Kennerly—Getty Images
Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla was a California state senator from 2006 to 2014.Rich Pedroncelli—AP

 

More Must-Reads from TIME

Write to Tessa Berenson Rogers at tessa.Rogers@time.com