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April 19, 2026
Billionaire Tom Steyer Dominates California Governor Race with $115 Million Ad Spend
- Tom Steyer has spent over $115 million on ads, vastly outpacing his Democratic rivals in the California governor's race.
- Critics, including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, accuse Steyer of trying to buy the election with his billionaire resources.
- Despite his spending, Steyer has not significantly moved ahead in polls, raising questions about the effectiveness of his campaign strategy.
- The California primary system could complicate the race, as only the top two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party.
2 Sources
- Billionaire's spending binge dwarfs rival campaigns in California governor's raceApr 19, 2026 at 4:49 AM · ABC News
- Becerra draws sharp contrast with billionaire Steyer in CA Governor’s race: ‘I’m not trying to buy the office’Apr 22, 2026 at 5:39 PM · CNN