The two-hour debate will take place at 6 p.m Pacific time at a venue in the Los Angeles area that is yet to be determined. CNN anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins will serve as moderators.

The debate will air live across CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and, for viewers without cable, on CNN’s subscription streaming service.

Participating candidates must have at least 3% support among likely primary voters in two state polls or an average of 3% across two polls that meet CNN’s methodology standards. The polls must be released between Feb. 1 and April 27.

The candidates must also have raised, contributed or lent to their campaigns at least $1 million, based on publicly available data from the California secretary of state.

Candidates from both parties are eligible to participate due to California’s “jungle primary” system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of political affiliation. The top two finishers advancing to a November runoff, even if they are both from the same party.

Two Republicans, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, are the leading candidates, according to a poll released Wednesday by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by The Times.

The poll showed six Democratic candidates currently qualifying for the debate under CNN’s standards: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, former House Rep. Katie Porter, philanthropist Tom Steyer, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and San José Mayor Matt Mahan.

CNN typically does not carry debates involving candidates in statewide races, but the network believes that the California contest is significant enough for a national platform.

“One out of approximately every eight Americans lives in the Golden State and it is at the forefront of some of the most complex challenges of our time,” said David Chalian, CNN’s political director and Washington bureau chief. “California’s jungle primary system also allows for the debate to include a wide spectrum of viewpoints and proposals to tackle those challenges that will reverberate across the country in this pivotal election year.”

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Trump posted late Sunday on his social media platform Truth Social that he has known Hilton for years and called the conservative commentator “a truly fine man” who could turn around a state beset with notoriously high taxes. California, Trump wrote, “has gone to hell.”

“With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!” Trump added.

The endorsement — coming about a month before mail ballots go to voters in advance of the June 2 primary — will help Hilton coalesce conservative support in a race with no clear leader. However, Trump is widely unpopular in heavily Democratic California outside his conservative base and Trump’s backing would become a liability if Hilton faces a Democrat in the November election.

With a large field, Democrats have been fearful that a quirk in the state’s unusual “top two” primary system could allow only two Republicans to reach the November general election ballot — Hilton and GOP rival Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff. Trump’s decision — a strong signal to undecided conservative voters — will make that outcome less likely by helping Hilton lure additional support.

Democratic consultant Paul Mitchell called Trump’s decision “the safe bet” for Republicans. Rather than cling to a long shot hope that both Republicans reach the November ballot — or risk that both Hilton and Bianco fall short — Trump’s blessing should consolidate support behind Hilton and allow him to emerge from a large primary field and reach November.

“Having a Republican on the top of the ticket is essential” to drive turnout in critical down-ballot races, with control of the U.S. House in play,” Mitchell added. In an unpredictable, wide-open race, the smart play for the GOP is to “get one Republican on the ballot.”

There are more than 50 candidates on the ballot — including eight established Democrats and along with Hilton and Bianco, the two leading Republicans. An all-GOP general election is possible in California, which puts all candidates on one primary ballot and only the top two vote-getters advance to November, regardless of party.

Polling in early February by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the field had broken into two distinct groups, with Bianco, Hilton and three Democrats — U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer — in close competition, with other candidates trailing.

In a statement, Hilton thanked Trump for his support and promised to grow jobs and bring down the state’s punishing cost of living. “Together we can turn things around,” Hilton said.

Republicans have not won a statewide election in California in two decades. Registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in the state by nearly 2-to-1.

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The issue has resurfaced as the June 2 primary approaches, with opponents within his own party sharpening their attacks and questioning whether Steyer’s business history aligns with his progressive platform.

The controversy came to a head during a recent town hall in San Diego, where a protester interrupted the event to confront Steyer about his former financial ties. Holly Taylor, a local resident, accused him of profiting from detention facilities, referencing a private prison in Otay Mesa that was backed by Steyer’s hedge fund years ago.

Steyer co-founded Farallon Capital in 1986, building it into one of the largest hedge funds in the country. Financial disclosures show the firm held a significant stake—valued at more than $89 million—in Corrections Corporation of America in 2005. The company, now known as CoreCivic, operates detention facilities across the U.S., including sites used by federal immigration authorities.

The connection has long drawn criticism. Protesters raised the issue earlier this year at the California Democratic Party convention, and Steyer’s rivals have continued to bring it up on the campaign trail.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond recently argued that Steyer’s wealth was partly built on industries that contradict his current political messaging. Rep. Eric Swalwell also criticized Steyer on social media, tying his campaign to the broader debate over immigration detention policies.

Steyer has not denied the investment and has repeatedly said he regrets it. He sold his stake in the prison company more than two decades ago and has described the experience as a turning point.

“It was a mistake,” Steyer said during a recent town hall in San Francisco, explaining that the investment ultimately led him to rethink both his career and values. He later stepped away from Farallon entirely, saying he no longer wanted to be involved in that type of business.

Since leaving the hedge fund, Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor, have focused on political advocacy and philanthropy, including efforts tied to climate change and criminal justice reform.

Still, questions remain about his financial ties. Public disclosures show that Steyer and his wife continue to receive income connected to Farallon through various investments and holdings. His campaign has said safeguards are in place to prevent him from profiting from industries he opposes, adding that any such earnings would be donated to charity.

Steyer’s wealth has played a central role in his political ambitions. He poured nearly $342 million of his own money into his 2020 presidential bid and has already contributed more than $100 million to his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, according to state filings. His heavy spending has made him one of the most visible candidates in the race, with thousands of television ads airing across California in recent weeks.

Despite that financial advantage, history suggests money alone doesn’t guarantee success in California politics. Past self-funded candidates, including former eBay executive Meg Whitman, have spent heavily only to fall short at the ballot box.

Steyer remains one of the leading Democratic contenders in the crowded field to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. But as the campaign intensifies, his opponents—and activists—continue to press him on the origins of his fortune.

For some critics, including those protesting regularly outside the Otay Mesa detention facility, the issue goes beyond politics. Taylor, who confronted Steyer at the town hall, said her concerns are rooted in what she sees as the human cost behind those investments.

“My main issue is that he has gotten financial gain off of these people suffering,” she said.

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    The allegations come after The Washington Post reported that FBI Director Kash Patel has instructed agents to prepare files from a decade-old investigation for possible public release. The case examined Swalwell’s past interactions with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.

    According to the report, the documents are being reviewed and redacted by agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office — a move that former officials say is highly unusual, particularly since the investigation never resulted in criminal charges.

    The inquiry focused on Swalwell’s contact with Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang, who was involved in fundraising efforts tied to his early congressional campaigns. After being briefed by intelligence officials in 2015 about concerns regarding her connections, Swalwell cut off all contact. He has never been accused of wrongdoing.

    In a statement released Saturday, Swalwell dismissed the renewed attention to the case, calling it politically motivated.

    “This is about targeting political opponents,” he said, adding that the timing of the reported document release raises serious concerns as California’s gubernatorial race begins to take shape.

    Swalwell, who launched his campaign for governor in November, argued that the effort is designed to weaken his candidacy as he gains traction in the race.

    He also suggested that the move reflects a broader strategy by the administration to influence elections beyond Washington, saying the goal is to shape leadership in key states.

    The FBI has not publicly commented on the report.

    Supporters of Swalwell quickly echoed his concerns. Adam Schiff, who has endorsed him in the governor’s race, criticized what he described as a misuse of federal agencies, writing that such actions could undermine public trust.

    Schiff, who previously served alongside Swalwell on the House Intelligence Committee, said the situation reflects a pattern of political retaliation. Both lawmakers played prominent roles in investigations and impeachment proceedings during Trump’s presidency.

    Other Democrats voiced similar concerns. Jimmy Gomez called the move a waste of resources, pointing out that the case had already been reviewed and closed without findings of misconduct.

    “Revisiting this now raises serious questions,” Gomez said, arguing the timing appears tied to the upcoming election.

    Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said any effort to revive the case for political purposes could cross legal and ethical lines, including potential violations of federal rules governing political activity.

    The original investigation dates back to the early 2010s. According to reporting from the Associated Press, Fang became involved with Swalwell’s campaign during his first run for Congress in 2012 and later participated in fundraising efforts. She also helped place an intern in his office.

    Federal authorities alerted Swalwell in 2015 about their concerns regarding Fang, prompting him to sever ties. Years later, in 2023, the House Ethics Committee concluded a review of the matter without finding evidence of wrongdoing.

    In its closing letter, the committee noted the broader risks posed by foreign influence but did not accuse Swalwell of misconduct.

    As the governor’s race continues to develop, the controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint — blending national politics with California’s high-stakes election season.

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In a wide-open contest ahead of a June primary, a burst of negative publicity aimed at the Democratic U.S. House member suggests that Swalwell’s leading rivals see him gaining momentum in a race that has been overshadowed by international wars, turmoil in Washington and soaring gas prices.

To listen to his competitors, he has a no-show job in Congress, he might not live in California and he’s a sympathizer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which staged immigration raids across Los Angeles that led to violent protests. His campaign disputes those claims.

“Whoever’s head starts to stick up higher than the rest, the other candidates pick up their mallets and start to knock them back down,” said Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who is not involved in the contest.

With high-profile endorsements from Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and the influential Service Employees International Union California — paired with favorable polling — other campaigns ramped up attacks in an apparent effort to blunt any Swalwell gains. In a race that has yet to capture the public’s attention, marquee endorsements can move votes.

“It’s like a kids’ soccer game — people move with the pack,” Salazar added.

Residency questions shake up campaign

Swalwell, an Iowa native, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. He is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021.

Billionaire hedge fund manager-turned-liberal activist Tom Steyer, who is among a handful of leading Democrats, posted a digital ad mocking Swalwell for missing votes in Congress that depicted the congressman taking dunks in a pool while the U.S. House was calling votes, while his campaign separately questioned Swalwell’s residency status in California. According to the Swalwell campaign, the Steyer post used video that the congressman put out during the 2025 government shutdown.

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and one of the leading Republicans, has said Swalwell should be disqualified because of questions about his residency.

In a letter to the state’s chief elections officer earlier this month, Steyer’s campaign argued the Swalwell lived in California “on paper” and asked the office to investigate whether the congressman is eligible to serve as governor. The state constitution requires five years of residency to run for governor, but the California Secretary of State’s Office has said the provision is unenforceable.

The office did not immediately respond to an email inquiring about the status of the request.

The California Post recently sent a reporter to Swalwell’s listed address in the San Francisco Bay Area. The news outlet interviewed neighbors who said they had never seen Swalwell. Meanwhile, Swalwell’s landlord filed legal papers with the secretary of state affirming that the congressman and his wife have rented the property since 2017. “He lives at the property,” the documents said.

Swalwell said he receives hundreds of death threats and keeps his address private to protect his family, and he accused Steyer and the news outlet of putting them at risk. His campaign says his living arrangements are no different from any other House member from California. He maintains dual residences, one in the state and the other in Washington.

In a related development Friday, a state court in Sacramento issued a tentative ruling denying a petition that asked the court to block election officials from certifying Swalwell’s candidacy, arguing that he was ineligible to serve because he lived in Washington.

Swalwell missed votes in September following the death of his mother, but campaign spokesperson Micah Beasley added that the congressman “has always been present for important or close votes.”

“Tom Steyer has spent $100 MILLION lying about me,” Swalwell posted on the social platform X.

Another leading Democrat, former Rep. Katie Porter, has dinged Swalwell for what she describes as his support for immigration enforcement personnel.

“Eric Swalwell voted to thank ICE,” Porter wrote in an email to supporters. “ICE needs to be abolished, not thanked.”

His campaign confirmed that Swalwell was among 75 Democrats who voted last year in favor of a GOP-sponsored resolution condemning an attack on a Colorado demonstration that was being held in support of Israeli hostages, which left one woman dead. The resolution expressed “gratitude” to law enforcement, including ICE.

His campaign added that he has proposed restrictions on ICE activities, including requiring agents to remove masks and display official identification. “If there’s someone that Rep. Swalwell has gone after more than Trump, it’s ICE,” Beasley said.

Candidates try to break from the pack

With mail-in voting scheduled to begin in early May, candidates are jostling for advantage in a race in which a fraction of a percentage point could decide the outcome. The election marks the first time since voters approved the state’s “ top two ” primary system more than a decade ago that there has been a governor’s race with no dominant candidate, enticing a crowd of Democrats into the contest.

Indeed, Democrats are openly fretting that the party’s numerous candidates will undercut each other and allow two Republicans to advance to the November election. Even in the heavily Democratic state, an all-GOP general election is possible under the unusual top-two primary system, which puts all candidates on one ballot and advances the top-two vote-getters, regardless of party.

Recent polling by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the field had broken into two distinct groups, with Swalwell, Hilton, Porter, Steyer and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, in close competition, with other candidates trailing.

Swalwell faces the same challenge as other Democrats — how to stand apart in a field where the candidates largely agree on many issues, including resistance to Trump’s agenda and lowering the cost of living in a state with some of the nation’s highest housing costs, taxes and utility bills.

Even with Swalwell winning a coveted endorsement from SEIU, “there’s still a little bit of a window” for another Democratic candidate to pull ahead, said Democratic political consultant Elizabeth Ashford.

“There is momentum behind Swalwell,” she said. “I just don’t know that it has reached quite the tipping point of like, ‘OK, this is the clear front-runner.’”

The uncertainty hovering over the race to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was underscored by a rare but not unprecedented decision by the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, which endorsed four rival Democrats — Swalwell, Steyer, Villaraigosa and Porter. Each has an extensive history working with labor.

Federation President Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher said the dynamics of the race continue to fluctuate.

“I think you’re still going to see a lot of that bouncing back and forth before it really settles in,” she added.

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Here are the 10 candidates:

• Xavier Becerra, Democrat, former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and former California Attorney General
• Chad Bianco, Republican, Riverside County Sheriff
• Steve Hilton, Republican, Fox News contributor and former adviser to conservative British prime minister David Cameron
• Matt Mahan, Democrat, mayor of San Jose
• Katie Porter, Democrat, former U.S. representative representing Orange County
• Tom Steyer, Democrat, billionaire entrepreneur and former presidential candidate
• Eric Swalwell, Democrat, U.S. representative from the Bay Area
• Tony Thurmond, Democrat, state superintendent of public instruction
• Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat, former mayor of Los Angeles and former Assembly Speaker
• Betty Yee, Democrat, former state Controller

Steyer became the last to officially file on Friday, the deadline for submitting candidacy paperwork.

Former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon exited the race earlier this week, endorsing Swalwell instead. 

What’s next?

The secretary of state’s office says it will verify the paperwork their campaigns submitted and publish an official list of primary candidates by March 21. 

The top two vote recipients in the primary, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. But the two Republican frontrunners enjoy more consolidated support from their base than their Democratic counterparts, who risk fragmenting the Democratic vote. At the February state Democratic Party convention, delegates were so split that no candidate earned enough votes for the party endorsement. 

With the current field, there’s a 27% chance of a Republican faceoff in November, according to statistical modeling by Democratic strategist Paul Mitchell. 

The prospect is worrisome for many Democratic leaders, including state party leader Rusty Hicks, who earlier this week penned an open letter calling for those without a “viable path” to victory to drop out before the Friday deadline to file paperwork. And for those who remained, he pleaded, drop out by April 15 at the very latest if they couldn’t make “meaningful progress.”

The call appeared to fall on deaf ears, as eight of the nine announced Democratic candidates stayed in. Even if someone drops out now, their name will still appear on the primary ballot as long as they qualify, risking siphoning votes away from other Democrats.  

Discounting the risk

When asked about the risk of a November shutout at a Thursday gubernatorial forum, several Democratic candidates brushed it aside while insisting they each would be voters’ best choice. 

Villaraigosa told CalMatters the GOP base will coalesce behind just one candidate when President Donald Trump makes an endorsement.

“When that happens, that person is going to surge up and the other (Republican is) going to go down, it’s as simple as that,” he said. 

Of the Democratic attendees at the forum, only Porter acknowledged the risk of a crowded field of Democrats. 

“I think it is terrifying to think about what Trump would do to Californians if we had a governor who at every turn cooperated with him rather than stood up for our California values,” she said. “So I don’t think it’s a certainty, but I do think it’s a risk, and I think the stakes are very, very, very high.”

The post The field is set: Meet the candidates officially running for California governor appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

A recent statewide survey shows five leading candidates separated by only a few percentage points. Former Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and businessman Tom Steyer are currently among the most visible Democratic contenders. On the Republican side, commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are polling near the top.

Poll analysts say voter anxiety over housing costs, inflation and overall affordability is shaping the race. A strong majority of likely voters identified cost-of-living issues as a top concern when choosing a candidate, with younger voters especially focused on economic pressures.

Support levels among the top candidates remain tightly clustered. Hilton and Porter are polling in the low-to-mid teens, with Bianco, Swalwell and Steyer close behind. No other candidate has broken into double digits, and roughly one in 10 voters remains undecided.

Under California’s top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters in June advance to November, regardless of party affiliation. With multiple prominent Democrats in the race, some party observers have expressed concern about vote-splitting potentially benefiting Republican candidates. California has not elected a Republican to statewide office in nearly two decades.

Political observers note that few candidates in the race have broad statewide name recognition. Porter and Swalwell have built visibility through media appearances, while Steyer has invested heavily in television advertising. Analysts suggest that in a state where one party dominates statewide elections, voter familiarity with candidates can be limited until late in the campaign.

San José Mayor Matt Mahan, who entered the race earlier this year, is also drawing attention. Though currently polling in the single digits, he has secured significant financial backing from business and technology leaders. His campaign and supporting committees have launched statewide advertising efforts aimed at increasing name recognition.

Mahan has recently focused on wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts in Southern California, arguing for stronger coordination between state and federal officials.

Beyond the governor’s race, voters will also weigh in on congressional contests that could influence control of the U.S. House of Representatives. A recent redistricting effort reshaped the boundaries of California’s 52 congressional districts following voter approval of a ballot measure last year.

The survey also found strong support among likely voters for Democratic congressional candidates and majority backing for a proposed tax targeting billionaire assets to fund healthcare programs.

With several months remaining before the primary, the governor’s race remains competitive and unpredictable. Analysts expect campaign spending, debates and voter turnout to play decisive roles as candidates work to distinguish themselves in a crowded field.

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With Gov. Gavin Newsom termed out, a large slate of Democratic candidates has entered the June primary, creating an unusually crowded contest in a state where Democrats hold a strong registration advantage. But under California’s “top two” primary system, party dominance alone does not guarantee a spot on the November ballot.

In California, the two highest vote-getters in the primary — regardless of party — advance to the general election. That means if votes are too widely split among multiple candidates from the same party, it opens a mathematical pathway for two candidates from the opposing party to move forward instead.

Political analysts note that Democrats typically command roughly 60% of the statewide vote in primaries, compared with about 40% for Republicans. However, with numerous Democrats dividing that majority share, and only a handful of major Republican contenders consolidating GOP support, the numbers could narrow unexpectedly.

Recent polling shows a tight cluster near the top that includes Republican former commentator Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell. Former Rep. Katie Porter and businessman Tom Steyer also remain competitive among Democratic voters.

While many analysts believe it remains unlikely that two Republicans would capture both top spots, simulations suggest the possibility is not zero. Even a relatively small chance has prompted concern among party strategists, who argue that the consequences would extend beyond the governor’s office.

A November ballot without a Democratic candidate at the top could dampen voter turnout, potentially affecting down-ballot congressional and legislative races, as well as statewide ballot initiatives.

The debate now centers less on ideology and more on arithmetic.

Some Democrats appear positioned to continue competitive campaigns. Swalwell has shown modest momentum and appeals to voters seeking generational change. Porter remains a prominent figure with strong name recognition. Steyer has the personal resources to fund a sustained media campaign. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has drawn attention as a younger, tech-aligned moderate.

Others face steeper climbs. Former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra brings significant experience but has struggled to gain traction. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is emphasizing a centrist message, though some voters may be looking ahead to newer faces. Former State Controller Betty Yee, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former legislator Ian Calderon have yet to break through in early polling.

Political veterans note that candidates often remain in races out of optimism, loyalty to supporters, or simple belief that momentum can shift quickly. History offers examples of campaigns that surged unexpectedly.

Still, some strategists argue that coordination — even informal — may be necessary in a crowded field where vote-splitting carries real risk. The filing deadline looms, and once candidates are officially on the ballot, their names cannot be withdrawn.

In a state where Democratic registration far outpaces Republican enrollment, the contest may ultimately hinge not on party advantage, but on strategy, discipline, and turnout in an unpredictable primary season.

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Because, after all, the former hedge fund titan doesn’t exactly share their daily ordeal of scraping up enough money to pay for rent, groceries and gas in the run-down car.

And he doesn’t have any record in public office to point to. He’s trying to start his elective career at the top.
So, what’s the solution? Well, you can be a global celebrity like super-rich actor Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was elected in 2003. Or a Gold Rush tycoon like Leland Stanford back in 1861. Other than those two, there’s a long list of well-heeled rookie failures.

They include Republican Meg Whitman, who blew $144 million of her fortune losing in 2010. And Al Checchi, who spent $40 million of his own money getting beaten in the 1994 Democratic primary.

“Look, they didn’t have anything to say,” Steyer told me while sipping tea at a popular hangout near the state Capitol, specifically mentioning Whitman and Checchi. “They’d never done anything. Not like I’ve done for 14 years.”

Steyer, 68, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, touts his record of funding and promoting progressive causes, including successful ballot campaigns that raised tobacco taxes, closed a major corporate tax loophole and beat back oil industry efforts to kill climate fighting laws.

“I could give you 10 things I’ve done about environmental sustainability and economic justice,” he said.

“Why trust me? Because I’ve gotten results. And I don’t owe anybody anything.”

The Democrat spent $12 million on TV ads last year pushing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 that allowed the Legislature to gerrymander congressional districts aimed at gaining five more Democratic seats in California.

Being a billionaire allows Steyer to buy all the TV spots he wants. He already has popped for $27 million worth running for governor.

But astronomical wealth comes with a political price.

“California voters do not cotton to some rich guy who has never spent a day in office but looks in the mirror one morning and suddenly sees a governor of California,” says veteran Democratic strategist Garry South.

So, in his campaign TV commercials, Steyer wears casual backyard barbecue garb trying to look like Mr. Average, but with a populist agenda.

“I’m the billionaire who’s going to take on the billionaires,” he says.

That sounds counterintuitive, and I’m skeptical about how well it sells.

Steyer knows he sorely needs labor support to seem credible among the working class. That’s why he recently joined rallies for striking teachers in San Francisco and healthcare workers in San Diego.

He has scored endorsements from the California School Employees Assn. — a union representing school staff — and the California Nurses Assn.

Nurses are backing Steyer largely because he has embraced their No. 1 goal: a single-payer, state-run health insurance system.

They’ve attempted to push that in Sacramento for years and failed. And for good reason.

Single-payer would cost the state barrels of money it doesn’t have. Moreover, it would replace not only private insurance, but popular federal Medicare and the state’s Medi-Cal program for the poor. The federal government would need to agree. Fat chance.

I asked Steyer whether he really believes the state bureaucracy is capable of handling such an ambitious undertaking.

“We’re going to have to get back to having a government that works,” he replied, in what sounded like a knock on Newsom and his predecessors.

How could he make a single-payer system work? “God is in the details,” he answered, a phrase he frequently uses. Translation: “I don’t know.”

“We’re going to work through it. That’ll take at least three years… But we’re going to have to do it…. Healthcare costs have been escalating for a very long time. And they’re eating up the [state] budget.”

After Steyer left hedge fund investing, he became an ardent crusader for clean energy and fighting climate change. It was his core issue running for president in 2020, when he spent $340 million before giving up.

But these days, he barely mentions climate. The better politics du jour is advocating for “affordability” — especially affordable housing.

Steyer said he doesn’t have a “silver bullet” for lowering housing costs. He has “silver buckshot” — a scattergun of solutions for boosting housing supply, plus rent control.

He’d shorten the time for issuing construction permits, require rezoning to develop vacant land, tax unoccupied housing left off the market and build higher — more like in New York’s Manhattan, where he was raised.

“What we’re doing is sprawl,” he said. “And what sprawl leads to is an awful lot of commuting, a lot of driving.”

That’s been a problem for generations, I noted. Suburban ranch-style housing is the California way. “People can change,” he said. “I think people want to.”

I asked him about the slow-poke bullet train project that’s costing four times original estimates.

“Of course, I’m in favor of high speed rail,” he said. “But good grief. We’ve been working on this for an incredibly long time and spent an incredible amount of money. As far as I can tell, we haven’t built anything. If we’re going to do high-speed rail, we have to build it at a reasonable price. And we haven’t been able to do that.”

Might he abandon the project? “I want to look at it,” he said.

The odds are against him ever getting the opportunity.

But the odds aren’t exciting for any candidate in this ho-hum contest.

Steyer is running in the middle of the pack, based on polls. He has hired the strategists who managed Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victorious campaign for New York mayor.

There’s no front-runner for governor. But Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) has some momentum. He recently was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schiff. And he’ll also soon be endorsed by influential former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, I’m told.

Voters will do their all-important endorsing in the June 2 primary.

The post The billionaire who wants to be California governor appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Democrat Gray Davis, to name a recent example, had an extensive background in government and politics and a bland demeanor that suggested his first name was also a fitting adjective.

Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, by contrast, was a novice candidate who ran for governor on a whim. His super-sized action hero persona dazzled Californians like the pyrotechnics in one of his Hollywood blockbusters.

In the end, however, their political fates were the same. Both left office humbled, burdened with lousy poll numbers and facing a well of deep voter discontent.

(Schwarzenegger, at least, departed on his own terms. He chased Davis from the Capitol in an extraordinary recall and won reelection before his approval ratings tanked during his second term.)

There are roughly a dozen major candidates for California governor in 2026 and, taken together, they lack even a small fraction of Schwarzenegger’s celebrity wattage.

Nor do any have the extensive Sacramento experience of Davis, who was a gubernatorial chief of staff under Jerry Brown before serving in the Legislature, then winning election as state controller and lieutenant governor.

That’s not, however, to disparage those running.

The contestants include a former Los Angeles mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa; two candidates who’ve won statewide office, schools Supt. Tony Thurmond and former Controller Betty Yee; two others who gained national recognition during their time in Congress, Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell; and Riverside County’s elected sheriff, Chad Bianco.

The large field offers an ample buffet from which to choose.

The rap on this particular batch of hopefuls is they’re a collective bore, which, honestly, seems a greater concern to those writing and spitballing about the race than a reflection of some great upwelling of citizens clamoring for bread and circuses.

In scores of conversations with voters over the past year, the sentiment that came through, above all, was a sense of practicality and pragmatism. (And, this being a blue bastion, no small amount of horror, fear and loathing directed at the vengeful and belligerent Trump administration.)

It’s never been more challenging and expensive to live in California, a place of great bounty that often exacts in dollars and stress what it offers in opportunity and wondrous beauty.

With a governor seemingly more focused on his personal agenda, a 2028 bid for president, than the people who put him in office, many said they’d like to replace Gavin Newsom with someone who will prioritize California and their needs above his own.

That means a focus on matters such as traffic, crime, fire prevention, housing and homelessness. In other words, pedestrian stuff that doesn’t light up social media or earn an invitation to hold forth on one of the Beltway chat shows.

“Why does it take so long to do simple things?” asked one of those voters, the Bay Area’s Michael Duncan, as he lamented his pothole-ridden, 120-mile round-trip commute between Fairfield and an environmental analyst job in Livermore.

The answer is not a simple one.

Politics are messy, like any human endeavor. Governing is a long and laborious process, requiring study, deliberation and the weighing of competing forces. Frankly, it can be rather dull.

Certainly the humdrum of legislation or bureaucratic rule-marking is nothing like the gossipy speculation about who may or may not bid to lead California as its 41st governor.

Why else was so much coverage devoted to whether Sen. Alex Padilla would jump into the gubernatorial race — he chose not to — and the possible impact his entry would have on the contest, as opposed to, say, his thinking on CEQA or FMAP?

(The former is California’s much-contested Environmental Quality Act; the latter is the formula that determines federal reimbursement for Medi-Cal, the state’s healthcare program for low-income residents.)

Just between us, political reporters tend to be like children in front of a toy shop window. Their bedroom may be cluttered with all manner of diversion and playthings, but what they really want is that shiny, as-yet unattained object — Rick Caruso! — beckoning from behind glass.

Soon enough, once a candidate has entered the race, boredom sets in and the speculation and desire for someone fresh and different starts anew. (Will Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta change his mind and run for governor?)

For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.

Someone strong, but not dug in. Willing to compromise, but never caving to the other side. Someone with the virginal purity of a political outsider and the intrinsic capability of an insider who’s spent decades cutting deals and keeping the government wheels spinning.

They look over their choices and ask, in the words of an old song, is that all there is? (Spoiler alert: There are no white knights out there.)

Donald Trump was, foremost, a celebrity before his burst into politics. First as a denizen of New York’s tabloid culture and then as the star of TV’s faux-boardroom drama, “The Apprentice.”

His pizzazz was a large measure of his appeal, along with his manufactured image as a shrewd businessman with a kingly touch and infallible judgment.

His freewheeling political rallies and frothy social media presence were, and continue to be, a source of great glee to his fans and followers.

His performance as president has been altogether different, and far less amusing.

If the candidates for California governor fail to light up a room, that’s not such a bad thing. Fix the roads. Make housing more affordable. Help keep the place from burning to the ground.

Leave the fun and games to the professionals.

The post Unhappy with the choices for California governor? Get real appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.