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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014\u00a0In his bid for California governor, Democratic candidate Tom Steyer\u00a0held a\u00a0San Diego town hall on\u00a0Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Steyer, a billionaire and climate activist, is one of many candidates vying to replace Governor Gavin Newsom\u00a0with his term ending\u00a0this year.\u00a0There are eight Democrats and two Republicans\u00a0in the race. Currently, Steyer, former\u00a0Representative Katie Porter,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Representative Eric Swalwell<\/a>\u00a0are leading democratic support.<\/p>\n During the town hall at Liberty Station,\u00a0Steyer said his goal with his \u201cProsperity Tour\u201d was to connect with people across the state. He added that his campaign strategy was not to speak with the other candidates, but to the voters.<\/p>\n Who is running for Governor of California? <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe way we\u2019re going to win this, honestly, is people are going to start to focus,\u201d Steyer said. \u201cAnd when they focus,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0going to want the most progressive candidate in this race\u2014which I think is me across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n Some\u00a0San Diego state leaders have thrown their support behind Steyer, including Assemblymember Chris Ward and former gubernatorial candidate and\u00a0state\u00a0Senator\u00a0Toni Atkins.<\/p>\n \u201cI endorsed Tom Steyer because this is personal for him, as it is for me, as it is for each and every one of you,\u201d Ward said as he introduced Steyer at the town hall. \u201cWe have a sincere vision for a better\u00a0future,\u00a0and we know that\u00a0future\u00a0is possible here in California.\u201d<\/p>\n On the campaign trail, Steyer has run on issues such as\u00a0single-payer health care, breaking up\u00a0electric companies like\u00a0PG&E\u00a0and\u00a0abolishing\u00a0Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\u00a0Additionally, Steyer has advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy\u2014including himself\u2014and increasing investments in Home Supportive Services.<\/p>\n Despite running under a populist framework, some at the rally raised criticisms against Steyer,\u00a0specifically\u00a0regarding\u00a0previous\u00a0business dealings<\/a>\u00a0his company was involved with.<\/p>\n Attendees confront Tom Steyer on his history with previous company ties to a private prison company. (KSWB\/KUSI)<\/p>\n Attendees confront Tom Steyer on his history with previous company ties to a private prison company. (KSWB\/KUSI)<\/p>\n Assemblymember Chris Ward explains why he endorsed Tom Steyer for California governor at a San Diego town hall. (KSWB\/KUSI)<\/p>\n Farallon Capital Management, the Steyer founded\u00a0hedge\u00a0fund,\u00a0previously\u00a0bought shares\u00a0in private prison company Corrections Corporation of America.<\/p>\n Steyer left the\u00a0hedge fund\u00a0in 2012, however\u00a0his ties have drawn criticism from other democratic candidates like Swalwell and Porter.<\/p>\n \u201cI said at the time this\u00a0was\u00a0just a mistake, but it was more than that,\u201d Steyer\u00a0responded. \u201cIt was a wakeup call that what I was doing\u00a0not\u00a0what I wanted to\u00a0do\u00a0with my life.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0a reason I walked away from a huge business that I had built from scratch.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0a reason I left all that money on the table.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0a reason my wife and I are giving our money away. Because running that fund gave a value\u00a0system\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0agree with.\u201d<\/p>\n California has a top two primary system, meaning the top two candidates with the most votes in June will move forward to the November election\u2014regardless of political party. Eric Swalwell\u00a0is leading the race\u00a0with Steve Hilton (R) and Steyer behind, according to\u00a0Emerson College Polling<\/a>.<\/p>\n A quarter (25%) of Californians\u00a0remain\u00a0undecided. Voters can cast their ballots for their preferred candidate in the Primary Election on June 2.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n![\"Attendees](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b595e9406ed3edea2aec0fad5ba948a6.jpeg\"\/)
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