SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Jerry Brown is formally throwing his support behind fellow Democrat Gavin Newsom to replace him as California governor. Wednesday’s endorsement from California’s longest serving governor was widely expected after Newsom was the only Democrat to advance to the November election in last week’s primary. Brown backed Newsom at a unity rally featuring Democratic candidates for statewide office at the party’s headquarters in Sacramento. Brown says he was the right man for the job when he took over in the aftermath of the Great Recession, and Newsom is the right man now. Newsom is the lieutenant governor and former San Francisco mayor. He faces Republican businessman John Cox in the November 6 election. Brown is wrapping up his fourth term and is barred by law from running for re-election.