Although Tom Steyer did not make it to Fresno last week for a gubernatorial debate, he will make good Tuesday night.
The billionaire Democrat from San Francisco will hold a town hall starting at 6 p.m. The campaign is not revealing the location publicly. Attendees can sign up here, with the address provided upon RSVP.
“Steyer will hear directly from Californians who want real solutions to the state’s housing crisis, skyrocketing utility costs, threats posed by AI to our workforce and the need to defend our communities from attacks by this administration,” his campaign said as part of his “Shared Prosperity” tour.
Steyer has blanketed Fresno TV airwaves with his message. He is self-funding most of his campaign, contributing $112 million in his bid for the governor’s mansion.
Recent polls show Steyer among the top Democrats at around 10%. That trails the two Republicans in the race — former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who polled at 16% and 14%, respectively.
If the poll numbers became voting numbers, California would have its first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger under the state’s top-two voting system. However, President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton this week. It is unclear how that will affect GOP support for Hilton and Bianco and whether that would knock one of them out of the top two.
Fresno Dems Make Picks
The Fresno County Democratic Party announced its endorsements for local races, but its decision not to endorse in some contests left one candidate with a lot to talk about.
The local Democrats did not make an endorsement for Fresno County Supervisor District 1, which covers the northwest part of the county. One candidate said the choice not to decide “speaks volumes.”
“I’m the only African American and API candidate in the race,” candidate Eric Payne wrote on his Facebook page. “Let’s be clear about what this means. When the establishment stays neutral, it creates space. Space for the community. Space for the people. Space for us to decide who leads and who represents our future.”
Payne and five other candidates are running to succeed Brian Pacheco, who is not running for re-election, opting to run for state Assembly instead. Four of the candidates are of Latino heritage (Lupe Flores, Felipe Perez, Omar Hernandez , Maria Pacheco), one is of Persian heritage (Mike Karbassi), and Payne is Black.
“When there is no endorsement, it sends a message: this election will be decided by the people who show up,” Payne wrote.
All but Flores are Democrats. Flores is a Republican.
“It’s a very close race with many great candidates. It’s a diverse field. I’m excited to see one of them succeed,” local Democratic party spokesperson Artemes Gidram said.
Eric Payne reacted to the Fresno County Democratic Party endorsements on Facebook.
The Fresno Democrats endorsed Huron Mayor Rey Leon in the Fresno County Supervisor District 4 race. Leon is the only Democrat in the race.
GV Wire will hold a District 4 forum featuring Leon, former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran and Selma Unified trustee Nick Sahota on Monday, April 13, at 6 p.m.
Mims, Beltran, and Sahota are Republicans.
For Fresno City Council, the Democrats made picks in three of the four races: Rob Fuentes (District 1), Danielle Parra (District 5) and Nav Gurm (District 7).
The Dems made no pick for District 3, featuring prominent Democrats Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas.
“Both candidates are really good and excellent. We want to give both of them an opportunity to win the favor of the people,” Gidram said.
For Fresno County superintendent of schools, the Dems chose incumbent Michele Cantwell-Copher, the only Democrat in the race. Challengers Eimear O’Brien and Johnny Alvarado are Republicans.
McClintock Meet and Greet
The Fresno County Republican Party is hosting a meet and greet with Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, Thursday evening.
McClintock represents parts of Fresno and Clovis. He does not have major opposition in his upcoming re-election campaign.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Patriots Room.
Woody Running for SLO County Supervisor
Michael Erin Woody
Former Fresno City Councilmember Michael Erin Woody is a candidate again, this time for supervisor in San Luis Obispo County.
Woody won election to the city council in 1992. He ran for mayor in 1996, losing to Jim Patterson. He ran again for city council in 2020, losing to Jerry Duncan.
He has since moved to Morro Bay on the coast, where he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018, failing to advance past the primary.
Woody is running against James Agnelo Dantona for an open seat.