Takeaways from The Bee’s endorsement interview with CA governor candidate Tom Steyer
The Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board interviewed all the major candidates running for governor to determine who would get the board’s endorsement. Each of the candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom for the state’s top office shared why their vision for California is the one that should get them elected.
Here is what gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer had to say.
The Bee also is publishing videos and key points from the board’s interviews with seven other candidates: Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa.
Why run?
Steyer describes his campaign as “anti-insider.” He says he plans to work for voters regardless of what the Democratic Party is doing. California’s biggest problems are harming voters now, he says, and the state needs a new approach.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome,” Steyer says. “We’re going to have to think differently about things, and we’re going to have to believe we can get things done.”
What’s his platform?
Some of the issues Steyer is running on are homelessness, affordability, immigration and Artificial Intelligence.
Steyer says he approaches homelessness with a harm reduction mindset. He proposes emergency interim housing to get people into safe environments, and he says that the current seven-year wait times for interim housing aren’t working. He also believes that the state should be encouraging the development of more dense housing, especially near public transit.
He calls federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement a “criminal organization” and says that ICE should be abolished.
AI, he says, should be, “a tool for workers, not a replacement for workers.” He proposes a “very small token fee” on every calculation AI does and says he would use the funds generated toward protecting and retraining workers, as well as putting that money into a potential sovereign wealth fund for the state.
What he says sets him apart from the rest of the pack?
Steyer says he is the only candidate with uniquely specific “detailed, fundable” policy plans and a proven track record to pay for their implementation.
His plans include the AI calculation tax and ending, as he describes it, the state’s corporate tax loophole. He points to his track record of getting various ballot measures passed as proof he can take on corporate interests.
California’s primary election is on Tuesday, June 2. Be sure to check out The Bee’s Voter Guide for key information and the Editorial Board’s other endorsements before the big day.
This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Takeaways from The Bee’s endorsement interview with CA governor candidate Tom Steyer."
