{"id":320264,"date":"2026-05-17T18:20:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T18:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/320264\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T18:20:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T18:20:07","slug":"astounding-six-figure-sum-tom-steyer-paid-to-latino-influencer-living-outside-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/320264\/","title":{"rendered":"Astounding six-figure sum Tom Steyer paid to Latino influencer living outside California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer is facing backlash<\/a> over his use of paid social media influencers \u2014 and critics are now raising eyebrows over resurfaced details that one of the influencers tied to his California governor campaign was based in Texas.<\/p>\n

The Democratic candidate paid a whopping<\/a> $100,000 this election cycle to Carlos Eduardo Espina, a 27-year-old Uruguayan-American activist based in Houston with more than 22 million<\/a> followers.<\/p>\n

Carlos Eduardo Espina, left, and Tom Steyer Instagram\/@carlos_eduardo_espina<\/p>\n

Espina, who speaks mostly in Spanish in all of his posts, has been courted <\/a>by potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders for his wide reach into Latino voters. A Pew Research Center survey last year <\/a>ranked him in the top five influencers for news alongside the likes of Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan.<\/p>\n

Steyer, with his deep pockets, has been able to acquire Espina to consult on issues related to Latinos. Campaign records state he was paid for \u201cstrategic advice and campaign surrogacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The influencer has made dozens of posts and reels promoting Steyer, in many of which he is wearing a \u201cTom Steyer for Governor\u201d shirt. None of the posts disclosed the $100,000 arrangement, which some argue would be required under state law.<\/p>\n

Steyer recently defended his campaign\u2019s social media influencers usage after state election regulators opened an investigation into whether online creators failed to properly disclose sponsored political content.<\/p>\n

Kevin Liao, a spokesperson for the Steyer campaign, pushed back against the allegations in a statement to The California Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsistent with state law, payments for creator content are disclosed in campaign finance reports, and we notify creators we directly work with of their disclosure requirements. As a result, we are confident the complaint is baseless,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Candidate Tom Steyer attends a debate in the race for governor of California. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Espina told the New York Times that he didn\u2019t need to actually disclose anything, because the posting was being done on his own and not part of any payment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople see me as a content creator, and they think all I do is content,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat I do is more of the advising side of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of any potential rules violations, some critics have questioned the idea of hiring a Texas individual to comment on California issues.<\/p>\n

Carlos Eduardo Espina, left, promoting Steyer in one of his posts. Instagram\/@carlos_eduardo_espina<\/p>\n

\u201cCarlos Espina is a sleazebag sellout,\u201d one user said, sharing criticism from a pro-candidate Xavier Becerra <\/a>influencer. \u201cHe got hella paid to promote Tom Steyer when he\u2019s not even from California. Mind your own dumpster fire of a state, dude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steyer back in April<\/a> described Espina as a \u201ctrusted ambassador\u201d who would connect with California Latinos on issues that affect all Latinos nationwide. <\/p>\n

Espina noted to The Bulwark that he has relevance in California. Many of his followers are from the state, and he was swayed by his \u201cfriend\u201d Congressman Ro Khanna\u2019s (D-Calif.) endorsement of Steyer, he said.<\/p>\n

The influencer said he\u2019s made some impact on the Steyer campaign, such as advising him to do more stops in the Latino-heavy Central Valley and crowdsourcing from his California followers to help inform Steyer\u2019s policy platform. <\/p>\n

Candidates are now racing toward the June 2 primary for the governor\u2019s election. Steyer is trying to wrest away the Democratic frontrunner position from Becerra, a Latino candidate who served as a secretary at the federal Health and Human Services department.<\/p>\n

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