SACRAMENTO—Jeffrey Bleich, a Bay Area litigator and former U.S. ambassador to Australia, has announced he is running for lieutenant governor.

Bleich, a Democrat, opened a campaign account for the 2018 race and said in a post on a political crowdfunding website that he’s running to “help us solve the tough problems that are holding back hard-working Californians.” Bleich said in a press release he would have more to say when he officially starts his campaign later this month.