At a town hall in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, billionaire candidate for governor Tom Steyer laid out his vision for an affordable California free from the influence of corporate special interests. The hedge-fund-manager-turned-climate-activist received a warm welcome — along with a few pointed questions — from a packed auditorium of hundreds of Central Coast residents, who cheered at Steyer’s promises to build affordable housing, protect the environment, and crack down on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Californians can't afford to live in California anymore. That is the number one issue for the vast bulk of people in this state that can't afford to put together rent, healthcare, gas costs, electricity costs, and food costs every month,” said Steyer. “That's really what this campaign is about, at its heart.”
With Eric Swalwell’s departure from the race following sexual misconduct and assault allegations, the crowded gubernatorial primary has become a tense scramble. Polling conducted after Swalwell’s Sunday exit puts Steyer as the leading Democrat, tied for 14 percent with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and trailing three points behind former Fox News host Steve Hilton ; meanwhile, 23 percent of voters surveyed remain undecided. Democratic voters are facing pressure to coalesce around a single candidate, given that California’s nonpartisan or “jungle” primary system means it’s possible — though unlikely — for two Republican candidates to advance to the general election.