FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — As the California gubernatorial race enters its final stretch, Democratic candidate Tom Steyer is making a push through the Central Valley — focusing on issues he says directly impact Valley residents, including affordability, water, agriculture, and air quality.
Steyer stopped in Fresno Saturday, just 10 days before Election Day, where he met with voters and discussed his vision for the state if elected governor.
“The two biggest reasons that I have come to Fresno — one, to make sure that this big valley and its agricultural issues are things that I understand,” Steyer said.
At the top of Steyer’s agenda was affordability. He says lowering costs for Californians begins with housing, outlining plans to build one million affordable homes, expand renter tax credits, and push for single-payer healthcare.
In the Central Valley, however, Steyer pointed to another major financial burden: electricity costs.
“Fresno has some of the highest electricity rates in the United States of America,” Steyer said. “I have said that I will take on and break the monopoly power of the three big electric monopolies, including PG&E in the state of California.”
Steyer says his plan would lower electricity costs by 25% through increased local competition.
“If I drive down costs by one-fourth, they will still be 50% higher than the average in the United States of America,” he said.
Beyond affordability, Steyer said understanding the Valley also means addressing ongoing water concerns. He emphasized the need for long-term water management solutions, including water storage, reuse, and groundwater sustainability.
“It’s about the collection and storage of water. It’s about the reuse of water. It’s about using the groundwater carefully and maintaining the aquifer over time,” Steyer said. “Because I know parts of this Valley are subsiding because there’s been so much water drained out of the aquifer.”
Air quality was another key issue discussed during the visit. Steyer specifically referenced southwest Fresno, where residents have long raised concerns about pollution and environmental health disparities.
“The air quality is terrible and the environmental injustice in this Valley exists,” Steyer said. “Some parts of Fresno, southwest Fresno, have a very different life expectancy than the rest of Fresno.”
Steyer said he has spent years visiting the region to better understand the challenges residents face firsthand.
During our interview, I asked how he would ensure Central Valley communities are heard in Sacramento, especially as many residents say state leaders often prioritize issues in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“Well, in all these things, the question is, what is your style of relating to people?” Steyer said. “I can tell you one thing — what I don’t like to hang out with: corporate consultants.”
We also discussed Steyer’s substantial wealth and whether it creates an ethical divide between him and voters. Critics have questioned whether a billionaire can effectively speak on affordability issues.
“I’d say two things,” Steyer responded. “One, I’ve never inherited a penny in my life. I basically started a business, it went well, and I quit it 14 years ago to give back to the people in the state of California.”
Steyer defended his record, arguing that despite his wealth, he has consistently advocated for working-class Californians.
“I may be a billionaire,” he said, “but I’m the billionaire consistently fighting for working people while the career politicians are serving the billionaires and serving the big corporations.”
Watch the full interview here.