SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Poizner, the wealthy Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur and 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate, has announced he'll seek statewide office as an independent in 2018 — marking a high-profile defection from the state Republican Party as President Trump's approval ratings sink in California.

Poizner told POLITICO Monday that as California confronts the impacts of devastating fires, mudslides and growing cybersecurity threats, he’s decided to seek the office of Insurance Commissioner for a second time — but this time, without a party label.