Steyer shatters ad-spending record in California governor race
Tom Steyer has broken ad-spending records in California's governor race, signaling a high-stakes contest with heavy investment in campaign ads.
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Becerra dodges questions while California's governor frontrunner solidifies lead
Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra has dodged detailed questions about his long record, including scrutiny over how he handled migrant children as HHS secretary and a New York Times investigation into labor exploitation. He dismisses attacks as MAGA talking points and pushed back on tough interview requests, while polls show him at or near the lead and fundraising has surged since Swalwell’s exit. Voters view him as a 'safe choice' in a crowded race, even as opponents highlight the Times report and a 2024 inspector general audit finding safety gaps. Becerra says he isn’t responsible for what happened after children left his agency’s care and that he’s moving forward, a strategy some analysts say benefits from his frontrunner status.
Calif. Democrats mull last-minute voting strategy in governor race
Democrats in California are weighing a last-minute voting strategy in the governor’s race to avoid a potential lockout in November, as no clear frontrunner has emerged in the open primary. Supporters fear the wrong outcome could tilt the contest toward Republicans, prompting activists to urge waiting to vote until the last moment, watching polls and then backing the candidate with the most support. Election officials warn late mail-in ballots slow counting and can strain administration; experts note the race is fluid with Xavier Becerra in the lead among Democrats, followed by Tom Steyer, Katie Porter and Matt Mahan. Some voters, like Evans-Reber, plan to cast ballots on Election Day, while officials stress the importance of early voting to speed results and maintain accuracy.
Porter’s temper becomes pivotal as CA governor race narrows
CalMatters reports Katie Porter’s bid for California governor has stalled due to viral videos showing her temper, with voters and major Democrats leaning toward Xavier Becerra or Tom Steyer. Porter has tried to address the issue with self-deprecating ads and restrained debate performances, but fundraising lags and labor unions remain split. The race continues to hinge on temperament, endorsements, and how progressives balance support for her agenda with ongoing criticism of her demeanor.
Becerra Faces Fire as California Governor Debate Goes National
CNN’s two-hour Monterey Park debate pitted seven California governor hopefuls—five Democrats and two Republicans—against each other on issues from housing and living costs to immigration and health care. Xavier Becerra, riding a poll uptick after recent turmoil, absorbed sharp attacks from Tom Steyer and rival Antonio Villaraigosa, while defending his stance amid a single-payer health-care debate. Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco argued Democratic policy failures have hurt the state. With the field converging and demographics favoring Democrats, observers say the eventual winner is likely to be the Democratic nominee in a race that remains closely watched nationwide.
Steyer’s hidden fossil-fuel ties haunt California governor bid
Billionaire Tom Steyer faces renewed scrutiny over his links to Farallon Capital after reporting shows he never fully cut ties and remained a passive investor as the hedge fund financed coal projects, including in Australia. Steyer says he has removed fossil-fuel holdings and donates profits from any unintended exposure, but tax filings indicate Cayman-based funds and other foreign holdings. His net worth is around $2.4 billion, with Farallon stake declining from about $110 million during his 2020 bid to roughly $34.7 million more recently. The disclosures come as he gains ground in the California governor race, aided by his heavy campaign spending.
California governor debate ends without breakout moment as Steyer, Becerra draw scrutiny
In a chaotic CBS LA debate at Pomona College, six leading Democratic candidates failed to deliver a breakout moment, sparring over cost of living, housing, energy and immigration while Steyer and Becerra drew targeted scrutiny and Porter pressed the attack, leaving voters with little differentiation ahead of mail-in ballots.
Grassroots Power, Long Game: Becerra Ramps Up California Governor Bid
Xavier Becerra surges in the California governor race after Rep. Eric Swalwell drops out, drawing new support and narrowing the gap with frontrunner Tom Steyer; the piece weighs his decades-long resume and endorsements against criticisms of his record—from his time as California attorney general and HHS secretary to his handling of COVID-19 and the migrant unaccompanied minors crisis—as Californians weigh experience and representation in a volatile primary that will determine November’s winner.
Snooze-fest CA debate jolts betting markets as Steyer leads, Becerra cools
A dull California governor debate unsettled the race on betting markets: Tom Steyer gained edge while Xavier Becerra’s momentum cooled. Pre-debate odds around 38% for both Democrats shifted to about 37% for Steyer and 33% for Becerra after the debate, with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan rising to 16%. Becerra later touted a fundraising day as a sign of strength. Analysts warned the debate’s impact could be limited, and a misstatement about Iran raised scrutiny.
Fiery California governor debate centers on wealth, experience, and race
Six candidates—two Republicans and four Democrats—debated in San Francisco ahead of California’s June primary, trading sharp lines on wealth, experience and race. Tom Steyer faced attacks over his wealth and investments in private prisons and fossil fuels but defended his philanthropy and plans to tax polluters; Xavier Becerra emphasized his long record while Katie Porter pressed for concrete housing funding details. Matt Mahan framed the race as reform-minded, while the two Republicans, Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, avoided broad clashes but tangled over race and policing. The 90‑minute forum was the first televised gubernatorial debate since Swalwell exited, occurring as ballots go out and a crowded field tests California’s top-two primary dynamics.)
Becerra Surges as CA Governor Race Turns Wide Open After Swalwell Exit
With ballots arriving in two weeks, California’s governor race remains highly unsettled as Xavier Becerra surges to 13% after Eric Swalwell drops out amid misconduct allegations, tying billionaire Tom Steyer; Betty Yee withdraws for fundraising reasons, leaving a crowded field under California’s top-two primary system.
California governor race tilts hard left as tech donors recalibrate
Swalwell’s exit upends California’s Democratic primary, pushing the race toward a Bernie-style left as Katie Porter and Tom Steyer compete for momentum and donor support. Steyer is flooding the airwaves and courting unions, while Porter’s more radical agenda could fracture traditional tech backing. The tech sector fears a wealth tax and anti-tech policies, potentially driving high-wage earners and talent out of Silicon Valley. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is seen as a possible pro-business alternative, but Steyer’s fundraising and Porter’s populist base could determine the outcome with wide implications for California’s economy and innovation ecosystem.
Swalwell’s exit recalibrates California’s governor race, boosting Steyer and Porter
Eric Swalwell’s withdrawal from California’s governor race reshapes a crowded Democratic field with no clear front-runner. Strategists say billionaire Tom Steyer and former congresswoman Katie Porter stand to gain the most from Swalwell’s exit, while the Democratic bench in the state looks thinner, potentially setting up a two-Republican general election in California as contenders vie for Swalwell’s supporters.
Steyer commits to California governorship, rules out another presidential bid
Tom Steyer, a frontrunner in California's governor's race, says he will not run for president again, focusing on governing California. His stance follows Eric Swalwell's exit from the presidential contest and comes amid warnings from Democrats like Antonio Villaraigosa that the governor's office should not be treated as a stepping stone to higher office, with Newsom potentially pursuing national office in 2028.
USC debate fallout: exclusion of candidates of color derails plan and a rushed alternative fizzles
USC canceled its planned gubernatorial debate after backlash that its invitation criteria excluded all candidates of color; a last-minute KNBC-moderated alternative could not be assembled in time due to scheduling conflicts, leaving several candidates of color and Matt Mahan out and highlighting gatekeeping concerns ahead of California’s 2026 race.