Steyer’s $132 Million Blitz Takes Over the Governor’s Race
Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 4 min
Tom Steyer’s self-funded campaign is now the gravitational force in California’s governor race, forcing rivals to answer both his progressive housing agenda and the uncomfortable question of whether billionaire money can buy a Democratic lane.
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Tom Steyer’s self-funded campaign is now the gravitational force in California’s governor race, forcing rivals to answer both his progressive housing agenda and the uncomfortable question of whether billionaire money can buy a Democratic lane.
In this episode
- Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race — CalMatters
# Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race - Livermore Vine Published: 2026-04-24T17:31:21+00:00 Author: CalMatters ## Summary Billionaire environmental activist and progressive candidate Tom Steyer is set to run the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in California history, spending over $132 million. Nearly all of the money came from…
“Do I love that Steyer is a billionaire? No. Is it more important that his policies are good? Yes absolutely. He would be a great pick. Our biggest issue is housing, and his platform is very strong. Left-NIMBYS will be mocked in my replies. We cannot subsidize our way out…” — r/California (1294 upvotes)
Our take: We think this is the real pro-Steyer argument: not “ignore the billionaire,” but “look at the housing plan.” If he’s serious about upzoning, streamlining, and enforcement, that matters in California — though $132 million still changes the playing field in ways no policy PDF can politely explain away.
“Rejecting Steyer's help in the fight for progressive policies just because he's a billionaire is a ridiculous own goal for the left. Like it or not, but we live in a system where money translates easily to power. If you want to change that, you should use every tool at your…” — r/California (192 upvotes)
Our take: “Honest class traitor” is a very online phrase, but the tactical point is not crazy: politics is played with the tools that exist, not the ones reformers wish existed. The danger is that once the left gets comfortable needing benevolent billionaires, the adjective starts doing a lot of work.
“When a billionaire spends that much money, it's pretty much guaranteed he's expecting a return on that investment. So, what is he trying to buy?” — r/California (165 upvotes)
Our take: That’s the blunt question every self-funded campaign invites. The return may not be a contract or a tax break — it may be power, legacy, and control over the agenda — but voters are entitled to ask what $132 million is purchasing besides ad time.
- Did Anyone Break Through in The California Governor's Debate? — Kqed
Did Anyone Break Through in The California Governor's Debate? | KQED - Skip to Nav - Skip to Main - Skip to Footer Become a KQED Sponsor upper waypoint Political Breakdown # Did Anyone Break Through in The California Governor's Debate? Listen Apr 24, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Chad Bianco, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, Xavier Becerra,…