sacramento two powerful politicians california advance basic gun control agenda yet loggerheads political duel could preview ugly race replace state popular democratic governor jerry brown spat among ambitious democrats take serious turn week senate leader kevin de leon aggressively move push package gun control bill legislature pass would largely render irrelevant firearms referendum lieutenant governor gavin newsom aim november ballot want tough gun laws california want credit say dan schnur former republican strategist head jesse unruh institute politics university southern california efforts would prohibit possession large-capacity ammunition magazines require great scrutiny ammunition purchasers seek good keep gun hand violent felons legislative package pass senate appropriations committee monday go full body thursday also seek eliminate loophole exist law prohibit weapons detachable ammunition magazines newsom run replace brown 2018 gubernatorial election expect make gun control measure centerpiece campaign along propose ballot initiative legalize recreational use marijuana de leon endorse last year shortly newsom announce gun control referendum de leon reduce number legislative staff work lieutenant governor office de leon represent los angeles close possible newsom rival governor race include former los angeles mayor antonio villaraigosa ask newsom agree withdraw ballot measure senate package pass newsom refuse initiative process blunt instrument always last resort first de leon say email monday would preferable achieve policymaking complex issue gun control legislative process de leon also concern ballot campaign would expensive draw political contributions pro-gun group like national rifle association potentially cause democrats moderate conservative district lose elections source close say newsom say letter de leon share reuters initiative comprehensive senate package tackle topics stall repeatedly legislature dan newman newsom campaign strategist say concern gun violence politics motivate lieutenant governor get plenty exposure fall via support marijuana initiative hillary president newman say relentlessly attack nra something need personal ambition back ballot initiative controversial topic like gun control likely raise newsom profile voters schnur say could also backfire alienate de leon campaign governor lot good go powerful democrat legislature schnur say gun right supporters say men opportunistic lieutenant governor gavin newsom strange try hijack high-profile issue order get name say craig deluz lobbyist calgun foundation senate pro tem de leon want lieutenant governor steal thunder california democrats duel gun control plan