Cooper Hefner, the youngest son of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, announced on Monday that he is exploring a run for California state Senate, in a district that includes Los Angeles County, CNN reports.
State Sen. Holly Mitchell, who has held the office since 2013, is currently campaigning for a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Should she win, the governor would order a special election during the first quarter of 2021. Should she lose, an election will take place in 2022.
Hefner intends to run as a Democrat in the mostly-Democrat district that has a population of almost 1 million, and includes downtown Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Culver City, Century City, Cheviot Hills, and parts of Inglewood.
"I am deeply concerned about my community and our government and believe that right now it's essential for new individuals to step forward and propose new ideas. I would not be on this road if I did not feel strongly that there was an opportunity to win and as a result, make a difference," Hefner, 28, told CNN.
Hefner was previously the head of global partnerships at Playboy Enterprises until May 2019, when he shifted to an advisory role to the company’s CEO while working on a media company of his own, called HefPost. Last December, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, completing basic training in April.
"I really don't understand how you can wake up every day and see the challenges that we're facing in the world and not ask yourself what more you can do. I mean, this is certainly the time to figure out how to engage in solving the challenges our communities are facing," Hefner said.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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