Billionaire activist Tom Steyer joins race to succeed Newsom as California governor

November 20, 2025 By Maya C. Miller Leave a Comment

In summary Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer raised his profile as a foe to President Donald Trump when he spent $13 million on ads touting Proposition 50. Now, Steyer is jumping in the 2026 California governor’s race.

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Tom Steyer, the billionaire climate activist and businessman who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, is the latest Democrat to jump into California’s crowded gubernatorial field.

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His two core promises — which could appear at odds — are to preserve the state’s status as a hub for business and innovation while also lowering California’s cost of living by making corporations pay “their fair share,” he said in a video message.

The nearly two-minute campaign launch film, which intersperses sleek graphics with footage of line cooks, ranchers and manufacturing workers on the job, encapsulates those dueling themes. 

“There’s a reason everybody comes here to start businesses — because this is the place that invents the future,” Steyer says near the start of the video. “I never want to lose that spark.” 

Steyer made his fortune as the founder of Farallon Capital, a hedge fund headquartered in San Francisco that currently manages about $42 billion in assets. After selling his stake in the company in 2012, Steyer started NextGen America, a liberal nonprofit that supports progressive positions on issues such as climate change, immigration, health care and education. The group also launched a labor-aligned super PAC to fund races nationwide.

His activism through NextGen America has elevated Steyer’s profile in recent years from little-known hedge fund manager to global climate activist and Republican antagonizer. He has spent millions to pass progressive ballot measures to uphold California environmental laws, raise taxes on tobacco to fund health care and push states to invest in more renewable energy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom terms out next year. At least six other Democrats are running to replace him, including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 

While a billionaire former financial executive might be at odds with a party base hungry for a more relatable fighter, he’s attempting to appeal to everyday Californians by spotlighting the issue that most people say is their top priority — affordability. 

“The Californians who make this state run are being run over by the cost of living,” Steyer says later in the video. “Californians deserve a life they can afford.”

Steyer also promises to “launch the largest drive to build homes that you can afford” in state history, rein in monopolistic utilities that have driven up costs and “drop our sky-high energy prices.”

Steyer’s nearly $13 million advertising blitz in support of Proposition 50, the congressional redistricting plan that voters approved earlier this month via special election, led many California political insiders to speculate that he would launch another bid for governor. 

He alluded to his gubernatorial ambitions when he launched a controversial advertisement that, rather than amplify the Yes on Prop. 50 campaign’s message of checking the Trump administration’s power, touted his own calls to impeach and resist President Donald Trump.

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Katie Porter to Everyone: ‘How Dare You Question Me’

October 15, 2025 By Katy Grimes 2 Comments

‘I’ve never had to do this before’ revealed how severe Porter’s entitlement is

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Someone asked me over the weekend if Katie Porter understands that she may have destroyed her political career with the disastrous and very public media meltdown last week. And this wasn’t her first rodeo.

As the Globe reported:

Porter’s interview with CBS News investigative reporter Julie Watts went viral Tuesday and after a few questions, Porter announced she was ending the interview. Watts asked Porter, “How are you planning to win over the 40% of California voters who voted for President Trump, who you’ll need in order to win?” Porter leans in, wrinkles her face and asks, “How will I need them to win, ma’am?”

Porter could have said that she and her campaign team recognize that 40% of California voters supported Donald Trump and are focused on attracting all California voters. She would not have committed to actually doing anything, but would have appeared as if she cares about all voters.

Instead she leaned in toward reporter Julie Watts’ face, grimaced, and gets defensive.

They go back and forth with Watts questioning Porter about potential election strategies and outcomes before Porter says, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative.”

The back and forth continues before Porter says, “I don’t want to do this. I call it.”

And just like that, Porter announces she has had enough. But Watts continues.

“You’re not going to do the interview?” Watts asks.

“Nope, not like this I’m not,” Porter says. “Not with seven follow ups to every question.”

Watts repeatedly tells her that every other candidate has answered her questions and follow up questions.

“I don’t care. I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation,” she says, dripping with entitlement. Porter then complains again about follow up questions.

Porter says “I don’t care,” because she doesn’t care. She’s entitled to the office of California Governor. And she tells Watts “I’ve never had to do this before.”

Katie Porter is part of the narcissistic, entitled left that despises the public and expects to be coronated rather than elected. She was indicating to Watts, “How dare you question me.”

Porter, 51, is Gen X, born in 1974. A student and protege of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Porter was first elected to Congress as part of the 2018 Democrat ballot-harvesting Republican slaughter in Orange County, defeating incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters (R), and flipping the 45th district. She won reelection in 2020, and in 2022, after redistricting, was reelected in the 47th congressional district.

When she first ran for Congress, Porter was exposed availing herself of the University of California, Irvine’s “subsidized affordable housing.” Porter, who previously worked as a law professor at UC Irvine, continued “to reap the benefits” of the institution’s subsidized housing despite no longer working there full time, a complaint filed by the Committee to Defeat the President with the Federal Election Commission alleges.

Entitlement.

Click here to read the full article in the California Globe

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New Zogby Poll: Steve Hilton Leads Republicans, Nearly All Democrats in CA Governor’s Race

October 8, 2025 By Staff 4 Comments

After message testing, the poll retested the 6-candidate horserace, and Hilton took the number one spot ahead of Katie Porter

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The reports of voters leaving the Democratic Party are numerous, and includes many California voters. There are a lot of concurrent issues happening in California leading to significant election changes in the tarnished Golden State.

A new Zogby Strategies poll reveals Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton is leading the Republican candidates in the 2026 Gubernatorial Election, and gets second place in a competitive race, including over three top Democratic California officials.

Hilton only trails Democrat (former) Rep. Katie Porter in the Zogby Poll. However, after message testing, the poll retested the 6-candidate horserace, and Hilton took the number one spot ahead of Porter, 29 to 23.

The poll identified the top issues driving voters’ decision to vote in the upcoming election for Governor include the cost of living in the state, the status of the California Dream, homelessness and crime, among a list of 14 issues for voters to rank.

Hilton’s campaign is built on these issues and resonates with voters – it is no wonder Steve Hilton pulls ahead in the messaging retest.

Other significant issues changing voters’ minds about California Democrats include Proposition 50 on the November 4th ballot, Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to redistrict the state mid-decade, gerrymandering more congressional seats for Democrats. His shameless goal is to leave California Republicans with only 5%-6% Congressional representation. Notably, 40% of California’s voters cast their votes for Donald Trump in the November 2024 Presidential Election.

The fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu are also a big factor leading Democrat voters to rethink who they want leading the state, after 11,000 homes and 18,000 structures burned, their neighborhoods were decimated, and they can’t rebuild thanks to Gov. Newsom signing an executive order to limit development in Pacific Palisades, as well as the stifling bureaucracy in Los Angeles now slow-rolling permits.

California’s voters are looking for a long-awaited return to common sense leadership, away from extremists and bureaucratic leftists. Center-left voters are actually looking at Steve Hilton because of the important and common sense issues he’s running on, while candidates on the left are ignoring the cost of living crisis, crime, and homelessness in California.

Click here to read the full article in the California Globe

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Walters: The clock is ticking for those hoping to be California’s next governor

October 2, 2025 By Staff 1 Comment

Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering statewide issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WeeklyMatters for a Saturday morning digest of the latest news and commentary from the Golden State.

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This story is part of California Voices, a commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence. Learn more here.

Over the last half-century or so, California has had six elections for governor when the office was being vacated.

Understandably, such incumbent-free elections to run the nation’s most populous and economically powerful state have drawn serious candidates, mostly holders of other high-profile offices who declared themselves as soon as decorum would allow.

When, for example, Republican Ronald Reagan’s two terms as governor were ending in 1974, the Democratic secretary of state, Jerry Brown, narrowly defeated the Republican state controller, Houston Flournoy.

This bit of political history is offered because the end of Gavin Newsom’s governorship is approaching rapidly. In scarcely a year, California voters will choose a new governor. The June 2 primary, which will determine the two finalists, is just eight months away.

Yet the field of would-be governors remains very unsettled.

For months voters, political media and potential campaign financiers waited for former Vice President Kamala Harris to decide whether, after losing the presidency to Donald Trump, she would seek the governorship.

Harris finally said no, with a rather odd remark: “I don’t want to go back in the system. I think it’s broken.” She may have been referring to national politics, but since the issue was California’s governorship, she could also have been implying the state was broken after many years of dominance by her Democratic Party.

Harris’ decision, whatever her motives, did not settle the question about who will be running for governor next year. There are declared candidates, of course, but none scores very high in preliminary polling.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis had been one of the first to declare her candidacy but shortly after Harris announced her decision, Kounalakis dropped out, opting instead to run for state treasurer.

With those two out of the picture, former Congresswoman Katie Porter became the frontrunner, more or less by default, but with underwhelming support — 17% in a poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, released in late August. Her standing may have reflected nothing more than name recognition from her losing campaign for U.S. senator last year.

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Democrat Toni Atkins drops out of crowded race to replace Gavin Newsom

October 1, 2025 By Jeanne Kuang Leave a Comment

by Jeanne Kuang

While you’re here: On Nov. 4, Californians will decide whether the state should gerrymander its congressional districts. Sign up for key updates on the special election.

Democrat Toni Atkins is dropping out of the crowded 2026 race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor, she announced Monday. 

Atkins, the former Senate president, wrote in an email to supporters that she was leaving the race with a “heavy heart” but that “there is simply no viable path forward to victory.” She made the call after failing to poll at higher than single digits, according to a person familiar with the campaign, and does not plan to run for another office in this election cycle.

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Atkins launched her campaign more than a year ago in what has become an open field since former Vice President Kamala Harris declined to run this summer. Another early entrant to the race, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, also dropped out in August to run for state treasurer instead.

Newsom terms out next year. At least six other Democrats are running to replace him, including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The field could still change, with Sen. Alex Padilla also reportedly considering a run.

Atkins had more than $4.2 million in her campaign account this summer, more than any of the other Democratic candidates, had the support of several allies in the Legislature and held a series of town halls throughout the state in August. 

But Atkins faced steep odds in name recognition having never run for statewide office before. She came in third last in an August Politico poll, with just 4% of voters picking her among the Democrats. Leading the pack was Porter with 21% of voters. On Sunday, Atkins did not appear at a Los Angeles candidate forum, reportedly citing illness. 

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Ian Calderon, former California Assemblymember, announces run for governor

September 25, 2025 By Linh Tat 2 Comments
Calderon, who comes from a family of politicians, says it’s time for ‘a new generation of leadership’

Former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, the first millennial elected to the California Assembly and the youngest Assembly majority leader in state history, is running for governor, joining a long list of candidates hoping to become the state’s next top executive.

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The 39-year-old, who represented Whittier and other Southern California communities while in the legislature, is the latest example of a younger Democrat seeking elected office during a time of intra-party debate over whether longtime politicians – many of whom represent an older era – should make way for a new generation of leaders.

“My generation pays bills on our phones. We send money to each other with Venmo and we save in Bitcoin. But the people running our government? They’re trying to use yesterday’s ideas to solve today’s problems, and it isn’t working,” Calderon said in a campaign video announcing his candidacy.

California should be the best place in the world to raise a family, purchase a home and build a future, he further added in the video.

“But to get there,” he said, “we need a new generation of leadership – one that listens, adapts, gets results.”

Calderon described himself as a Democrat who doesn’t always agree with his party and one who believes in “commonsense solutions, not the political extremes holding California back.”

The former legislator joins an already crowded field of candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can’t seek reelection next year due to term limits.

More than 85 people have declared their candidacy or submitted paperwork with the secretary of state, signaling a potential run – though some have also since announced they no longer plan to seek the governorship.

Among the better known Democrats running are former state Senate Pro Tem President Toni Atkins, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, entrepreneur Stephen Cloobeck, former Rep. Katie Porter, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee.

On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and podcaster and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are running.

There are also speculations that billionaire developer and former L.A. mayoral candidate Rick Caruso or U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla may toss their names in the ring.

Click here to read the full article in the OC Register

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John Phillips: Gov. Alex Padilla?

September 19, 2025 By John Phillips Leave a Comment

It looks like United States Senator Alex Padilla wants to run for governor in California when Gavin Newsom terms-out in 2026.

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When asked directly if he was interested in running for governor, Padilla told Politico, “I love California. I’ve had the honor of serving in many different capacities…I hope to continue to serve … in some capacity for the foreseeable future.”

How do I know he wants to run for governor? Because, according to my politician-to-English app, what Padilla said means, “If I determine I can win, then, sure.”

Padilla’s term in the Senate doesn’t end until 2029, which means he won’t have to give up his day job if he decides to throw his hat into the ring.

All of this leads to the question:  Why in the world would someone with a safe seat in the U.S. Senate, complete with six-year terms and no term limits, ever give that up to run for governor?

I mean, let’s face it, Padilla’s job is about as easy as they come in politics. As a Democrat, representing a heavily Democratic state, you never have to worry about losing to a Republican, all you have to do is show up and vote the party line, and you will be celebrated by the news media, academics, and Hollywood.

Even if you’re a totally incompetent legislator, nobody will ever know because you’re not responsible for running anything except your mouth.

But let’s say you’re an executive and the budget is upside down, the homeless have taken over, and crime is out of control. Then everyone knows you’re a failure.

Just ask Karen Bass. Or, really, any Democrat big-city mayor in America.

The way I see it, if Padilla jumps into the race for governor, it indicates a couple of things.

First, the Democrat establishment has not warmed up to former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter.  I know, I know, hard to believe, huh?

According to all recent polls, Porter is the front-runner. If the election were held today, the most likely scenario is that Porter would advance to the November ballot, along with one of the two Republicans, former Fox News host Steve Hilton or Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. In that scenario, Porter would be the heavy favorite to win the November election.

So, if Democrats seem poised to hold the seat, that leads to the question — why are they still looking for candidates?

Because, the powers that be in the Democrat Party don’t want poor Katie. That’s why.

And it’s because – for starters, when Porter was trying to gin-up interest in her run for U.S. Senate, she wrote a political memoir called “I Swear: Politics is Messier than my Minivan,” where, according to the LA Times, “she calls out fellow Democrats — and names names — for out-of-touch behavior and writes about the small and large indignities of serving in Congress.”

Because if there are two things voters like in a candidate, it’s belly-aching and back-stabbing.

“I Swear” was a tell all in which prickly Katie threw her Democrat colleagues under the solar-powered bus.

Former Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda, who represented the district next door to Porter, said in this newspaper last year that Porter, “spent a grotesque and inordinate amount of her time in the House of Representatives keeping notes, keeping score, and lying about her peers.”

He went on to conclude that Porter is “in this for power and position, the ability to bully, and be in the spotlight. Your book revealed your true nature. Your minivan is a prop, and your life is of your choosing. As they say, you made your bed.”

Miss Congeniality she ain’t, folks!

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Editorial: Harris bows out and leaves a weak field for governor race

August 5, 2025 By Editorial Board 2 Comments

Kamala Harris’ Democratic colleagues and Republican opponents are no doubt thrilled that the former vice president announced that she would not be running for California’s governor. Given her name ID, she would have been the front-runner to replace Gavin Newsom whatever her merits and demerits. The race had been effectively on hold awaiting her decision—and now other candidates can get moving.

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As senator, Harris governed as a mainstream liberal. As AG, she largely held a finger in the wind. She often did the bidding of the police unions—and then tried to depict herself as a progressive criminal-justice reformer when that looked like a winning position. We found her tiresome. We would have expected Harris’ governorship to be similar to Newsom’s—not a compliment.

With its myriad problems—a homelessness and housing crisis, crumbling infrastructure, wildfire and water challenges—California is desperately in need of innovative, market-oriented ideas. Harris would not have provided them, but the remaining field doesn’t inspire much confidence. The primary is in June, so kudos to Harris for providing time for a boisterous race.

Attention will focus on the Democratic candidates, as no Republican has won the governorship (or any statewide office) since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. GOP statewide candidates are lucky to break 40%. With the top-two primary, it’s not even a certainly a Republican will make it into the general election.

The Democratic field is, to put it kindly, underwhelming. Candidates include establishment figures, ideologues and has-beens. Of the former, there’s Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Controller Betty Yee and former legislative leader Toni Atkins. Kounalakis and Yee haven’t established any distinctive positions. Atkins is progressive, but with a reputation for personal graciousness. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is a mouthpiece for teachers’ unions.

In the has-been camp, there’s former AG Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Becerra was a constant embarrassment and mouthpiece for police unions. Villaraigosa took some praiseworthy positions, such as his support for educational choice, but a lot has changed since he was a political powerhouse.

Katie Porter, the former Orange County representative, is the field’s highest-profile ideologue. Every Democrat will promote high tax, big-government policies. It’s a matter of degree, with Porter likely to be the most aggressive in, say, embracing single-payer healthcare and “battling” corporate interests.

Click here to read the full article in the OC Register

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Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Shows Better than Expected Results First 100 Days of Campaign

August 3, 2025 By Evan Symon Leave a Comment

Hilton, Bianco show strong momentum going into August

With most of the 2026 California Gubernatorial race media focus on Democrat candidates, the top GOP candidates have managed to top most Democrats in terms of money raised, poll support, and other key areas.

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Right now, the major Democrat candidates, which include Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, former Diamond Resorts CEO Stephen Cloobeck, former State Controller Betty Yee, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, are all fighting for the top spot in the wake of former VP Kamala Harris deciding not to run. Based on 2018 and 2022 primary results, Democrats are likely to pull in roughly 4 million of the expected 7.1 million votes, with just under 60% of voters total coming out for them. That’s 8 major candidates split on that alone. Fundraising, as the Globe pointed out, is heavily split too.

Meanwhile, the top two Republican candidates, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron and former Fox News political commentator Steve Hilton, have been out and about on the trail and not really fighting each other for voters and dollars. Both have simply been going after state policies, Governor Gavin Newsom, and other issues, and the results have showed.

Bianco announced on Thursday that he has raised more than $1.6 million for his first 2025 fundraising period, with $1.1 million on hand. Bianco had more of a grassroots effort going as well. Sheriff Bianco raised $1.64 million, with $321k raised from 8,500 donations of $100 or less, although large donations have been constant as well.

Hilton gave his own announcement on Thursday as well, showing similar numbers. According to the Hilton campaign, they have raised over $1.8 million dollars, with donations coming in from 56 of the 58 counties in the state. And, like Bianco, Hilton has gone on a big media blitz, with hundreds of interviews with national, state, and local TV, radio, and print outlets, including podcasts like The Charlie Kirk Show, Tim Pool IRL, and the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. Overall, the Hilton campaign said that they were doing better than expected after their first 100 days of campaigning.

Click here to read the full article in the California Globe

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Kamala Harris’s Mentor Pours Cold Water on Her Gubernatorial Plans

July 31, 2025 By John Fund 3 Comments

Willie Brown doesn’t think that the former vice president should seek to make a comeback in California.

Kamala Harris says she will decide by summer’s end if she will run for governor of her native California. She would find it easy to raise money, and polls show that she would likely be the front-runner against a slew of local candidates who want to replace the term-limited Gavin Newsom. But not every Democrat thinks that Harris would have an easy run.

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Among them is Willie Brown, the 91-year-old legendary former California State Assembly speaker and San Francisco mayor. He also happens to have been Harris’s political mentor and love interest in the 1990s, when she was just entering the public arena.

“I do think people running for public office really ought to fit eventually where they are trying to land at. And I really do hope, frankly, that Harris comes to that reality,” Brown told the State of Gold political podcast last week. “She may not want to run [for] governor of the State of California. That may not be where she should be going.” He predicts that she would have a “difficult” road to the governor’s mansion.

Brown is under no illusions that Kamala will heed his warnings. In 2020, he had advised her to not join Joe Biden’s presidential ticket and instead to seek to be U.S. attorney general. He told her that, from that perch, “you may land where you, I suspect, are most talented, and that’s the Supreme Court,” and “you could easily end up being chief justice.” Brown added that “I think she stopped speaking to me as a result of that.”

Harris’s penchant for abruptly cutting off those who offer her unwelcome advice may explain why many Democrats aren’t willing to go on the record about her potential gubernatorial candidacy. Those who will speak, anonymously, don’t think that she’s what the party needs. They fear that she could easily top next June’s primary, because of her universal name ID, but then repeat the mistakes of her 2024 presidential campaign. They worry that she could run a shambolic general election campaign that would once again showcase her inability to communicate an appealing vision or message.

Click here to read the full article in the National Review

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