Billionaire progressive Tom Steyer threw his support behind Democrat Xavier Becerra on Tuesday, just a day after conceding defeat in California's gubernatorial primary. The endorsement aims to consolidate Democratic backing as Becerra prepares for a general election showdown with Republican Steve Hilton.
Decision Desk HQ projected Monday that Becerra and Hilton secured the top two spots in the primary, setting up a November contest for the governor's mansion. Steyer, who finished third in the polls, acknowledged his loss in a statement titled “I’m on your team forever,” urging fellow Democrats to stay focused on the stakes.
“Donald Trump is the embodiment of the corporations’ craven, soulless, profit-first model of politics, and it is absolutely essential that his handpicked candidate does not hold the keys to California,” Steyer wrote. “It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not.”
Becerra surged in the polls after former frontrunner Representative Eric Swalwell exited the race. A recent survey from CSU Long Beach, USC, and Cal Poly Pomona showed Becerra at 29 percent, Hilton at 23 percent, and Steyer at 18 percent. The shift underscores the fluid dynamics of the primary, which also saw a competitive race in the state's 22nd Congressional District, where progressive Villegas secured a general election spot against GOP incumbent Valadao.
During a televised debate last month, Steyer pressed Becerra on his stance regarding single-payer healthcare, a policy often called “Medicare for All.” Steyer pointed to campaign contributions Becerra received from the California Medical Association, which opposes the measure. Becerra has said he supports moving toward a universal-coverage system.
Steyer, who campaigned on affordability and economic justice, pledged to continue advocating for those issues. “I have always been an optimist, and today, I remain an optimist,” he wrote. “Nothing this campaign fought for is far off. These dreams we dreamt together are not too big. Californians deserve a life they can afford, and they deserve for it to be in California.”
The endorsement comes amid broader Democratic efforts to hold the governor's office, as Republicans aim to flip the state. In other California races, independent Kevin Kiley faces Democratic challenger Richard Pan in the 6th District, while a Justice official has predicted charges in a voter roll probe.
Steyer concluded his statement by calling on voters to remain vigilant. “Know what you deserve, and know who is on your side,” he wrote. “Understand who the villains are, and say their names out loud. Continue to demand more from your leaders and your government, until they give you the California – and the country – you know you deserve. I will be with you all the way.”
