On Tuesday, Steyer scooped up a major labor win with an endorsement from the California Teachers Association, which withdrew its backing of Swalwell last weekend.<\/p>\n
The apparent momentum made the philanthropist and longtime donor a top target for Democratic rivals, Trump and business interests concerned about Steyer\u2019s platform.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s comfortable terrain for the businessman, who has centered his campaign on counteracting Trump and corporate special interests.<\/p>\n
At a campaign event in Santa Barbara Tuesday night, Steyer read aloud Trump\u2019s Tuesday Truth Social post, or as he referred to it, a \u201creally nice love letter,\u201d where Trump attacked Steyer and knocked Fox News for a segment featuring the former financier rather than the Republican candidate he endorsed, Steve Hilton.<\/p>\n
When Steyer posted Tuesday that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was acting like a \u201ccriminal organization\u201d and rolled out a plan on X to prosecute ICE agents and their leaders if they commit acts of violence, Musk responded with a single word: \u201cWow.\u201d Steyer quickly amplified Musk\u2019s response and repeated his critique of ICE.<\/p>\n
And at a Tuesday Hispanic Chambers of Commerce candidate forum, Democratic competitors like San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took swipes at Steyer\u2019s plans for single-payer health insurance, describing it as unrealistic given the state\u2019s fiscal challenges.<\/p>\n
A number of Democrats, including Mahan, former Rep. Katie Porter, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond have attacked Steyer for his prior investments in private prisons as well as oil and gas production; Steyer has repeatedly said those moves were a mistake and part of the reason he stepped aside from the hedge fund in 2012.<\/p>\n
The lines of attack are likely to come up again.<\/p>\n
An anti-Steyer campaign committee formed late last month disclosed an $8 million contribution from a group connected to PG&E on Tuesday; it previously collected $5 million from the California Association of Realtors and $1 million from the California Building Industry Association. The committee is getting political support from Bearstar, the Democratic strategy firm whose clients have included Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris in her campaigns for state attorney general and U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n
Steyer, who has attacked utilities for rate increases, said in an interview Tuesday the attacks were proof that his governorship would bring sweeping change.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to stand up for what\u2019s right, and you want to change the status quo, the status quo may not like it,\u201d Steyer said.<\/p>\n
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SAC_9987_BenPaviour_HA_260224.jpg\")