California Treasurer John Chiang Nixes Run For Boxer's Senate Seat

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Treasurer John Chiang won't seek Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat.

Adviser Parke Skelton says Friday that Chiang (Chung) — who was elected in November — plans instead to focus on his new position.

He earlier served two terms as state controller.

Chiang is the latest Democrat to announce he won't become a candidate for the 2016 race. It's the first open Senate seat in California in a generation.

On Thursday, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer said he won't seek the seat, which Boxer plans to vacate at the end of her term.

Attorney General Kamala Harris launched her campaign earlier this month and there are more than a dozen other potential candidates, including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

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