BREAKING: Liberal billionaire joins California governor’s race

November 19, 2025

From The Hill: Billionaire Tom Steyer joined the California governor’s race Wednesday, four years after stating he had “no plans” to run for public office again.

Steyer said he’s running to lead the Golden State because “Californians deserve a life they can afford.”

“Sacramento politicians are afraid to change this system. I’m not,” he added in a caption for his campaign launch video posted to social platform X.

He will join a crowded field of candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who is term-limited.

Steyer, 68, a Democrat climate activist, made an unsuccessful run for president in 2020. He also spent approximately $20 million on a billboard campaign to try to get Trump impeached from office in 2017, plastering the billboards all over Times Square in New York City.

Other candidates already in the race for the California governor’s seat include:

Former Rep. Katie Porter – Democrat
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra – Democrat
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Democrat
Former Fox News host Steve Hilton – Republican
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco – Republican

“I wanted to build a business here. Now it’s worth billions of dollars. And I walked away from it because I wanted to give back to California,” Steyer touted in the video announcing his campaign.

“We need to get back to basics. And that means making corporations pay their fair share again,” he claimed, adding that he intends to “launch the largest drive to build homes that you can afford in the history of California.”

I’m running for governor because Californians deserve a life they can afford.

Sacramento politicians are afraid to change this system. I’m not.

Join us: https://t.co/YWoyLaGYSa pic.twitter.com/fE1sSnkD4Y

— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) November 19, 2025