Overview
- Steyer officially announced his 2026 bid, saying Californians "deserve a life they can afford" and pledging to make corporations "pay their fair share."
- His platform promises include building 1 million homes in four years, lowering electric bills by 25% by challenging utility monopolies, and expanding free preschool and community college.
- He also says he would ban corporate PAC money in state elections and target tax loopholes to pay for education proposals.
- The launch follows roughly $12 million in ads he funded to back Proposition 50 on redistricting, a move that fueled speculation about his run.
- Steyer joins a crowded field with no clear front-runner; his campaign says he intends to contribute personal funds, while pre-announcement polling put him near 1% in a top-two primary system.