The governor of California has authority over the 4th largest economy in the world, a budget over $300 billion, and 39 million residents. It’s normally a stronghold for the Democrats, but will they make it onto the gubernatorial ticket?
In California, the June 2 primary election pushes forward the two candidates who receive the most votes, and with such a packed race—over 150 people have registered to run for governor—Republicans Steve Hilton (Englishman & Fox News host) and Chad Bianco, (Riverside County Sheriff), are leading in the polls. Democratic votes are split between the next 10 candidates, ranging from the former CA Attorney General to congresswomen to billionaire businessmen and they are falling short.
Polls show democratic candidates Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, and Tom Steyer are closing the gap.
Tom Steyer held a town hall meeting in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Apr. 15, for two hours, answering questions and speaking to the enthusiastic crowd. He covered topics ranging from homelessness to affordable housing. The Natural History Museum’s auditorium overflowed, turning away around 100 people in order to comply with safety regulations.
Steyer’s campaign is based around affordability. He repeatedly stressed his goals of lowering housing costs, slashing electricity prices, and making polluters pay. He explained, “I’ve talked a lot about how we can shorten permitting times, shorten cost of permitting, and change zoning. Build differently on a build. Actually construct off site and assemble on site, which, if we do that, we think we can drop the cost per square foot by at least a third, and also provide money to the cities and counties so that they actually feel like it’s okay to have new housing.”
He supports higher taxes on corporations and billionaires like himself. When a critic asked a question at the town hall, saying “I consider myself to be unfathomably progressive and you’ve run an unfathomably progressive campaign, but I never thought I would support a billionaire because I don’t believe billionaires should exist…. How can we have faith that you’re going to act in our class interest and not in your class interests?” Steyer explained how he started his business after college (at Yale and Stanford University), and “never inherited a penny.”
Steyer answered a UCSB student’s question about AI, calling it a “California innovation,” and saying the public should stand to benefit. It was built in California with California knowledge, Steyer explained. He plans to take on corporate utilities, transitioning power production from companies to localized power grids.
Steyer says, “I’m the only billionaire on the ballot, but I’m not the only billionaire in the race,” referencing the corporate money from “electric and gas monopolies.” “PG&E is spending $10 million to stop us. They’re failing,” said a recent social media post referencing a poll placing his campaign second in the race.
The primary election on June 2 will place the top two candidates onto the ballot Nov. 3. Register to vote with the County of Santa Barbara here, or pre-register as a 16 or 17-year-old here.
Note: This article focuses on Tom Steyer and his politics, and does not represent the views of the reporter, newspaper, editorial team, school, or school district. It focuses specifically on Tom Styer’s candidacy because he recently held an event in Santa Barbara. This published late due to the Forge’s publishing congestion, not as a way to promote Tom Steyer in the primary.
