Readers respond to Question of the Week:

Who should be our next governor?

California’s next governor

I believe that both Rick Caruso and Sheriff Chad Bianco each have the characteristics that are required for leadership. Unfortunately, California has had zero leadership in the last eight years. A positive change will be welcomed with open arms by the majority of intelligent voters.

— Michelle Larsson, Huntington Beach

The Golden State

Having lived in California since my service in the Marine Corps in 1967, California was better off with a dividend Legislature and a Republican governor. Bring back the gold in the Golden State.

— Bill Ring, Mission Viejo

Rick Caruso would be my pick

Rick Caruso is obviously a very successful businessman, with excellent communication skills (no word salads), a vested interest in SoCal, and no motivation to court special interest groups since he is already a billionaire x 5. And he is actually very “likeable” unlike Kamala, Newsom, Schiff. etc.

— Robert Rice, Rancho Mission Viejo

Harris has my vote

Top Republicans, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, believe Kamala has no chance of winning if she were to run for California’s governorship. Naturally, one must consider the source. According to a survey from Emerson College Polling, if she does run, Harris would be supported by nearly six out of 10 Democratic primary voters. While premature to know if Harris will run for governor or even run again for president in 2028, with her amazing qualifications, unequivocally she has my vote.

— Isadora Johnson, Seal Beach

This could get interesting

The next California governor will be determined by how well the co-president and Trump reduce the size of the federal government and big time spending cuts. If the average Democrat actually sees results and gets more money in their pockets then we might see a Republican governor. However, if the left runs the likes of Harris, Caruso, Porter, Villaraigosa and others of their ilk the GOP better have a drop-dead candidate or they will lose.

— Len Musgrave, Orange