Tom Steyer Concedes in California Governor’s Race, Two Candidates Advance

Tom Steyer conceded in California’s governor’s race on Tuesday, acknowledging he lacked the votes needed to progress to the November election. In a letter posted on X, Steyer stated, “It’s now clear that we do not have the votes necessary to advance to the general election in November.”

Following California’s jungle primary, two candidates will move on. Former Fox News host Steve Hilton will face former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the upcoming gubernatorial election in November.

Billionaire hedge fund founder and environmental activist, Steyer, entered the race with a background heavily involved in state politics and environmental issues. Having spent over $200 million of his own money on his campaign, he previously lost his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

During the gubernatorial campaign, Steyer promoted a progressive platform. He advocated for the abolition of ICE, increased taxes on the wealthy, and universal healthcare. He received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., known for his criticism of billionaires in politics.

In his concession statement, Steyer suggested that influential corporate interests significantly influenced the race outcome. “By spending $55 million – the most ever against a single candidate in a California primary – they showed the lengths they would go to in order to protect a status quo that only serves them and their profits,” he wrote, referring to opposition spending by corporations such as Chevron, PG&E, and Meta.

Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for governor in California, expressed readiness to face the challenge during a town hall meeting in Santa Ana. Hilton is backed by Trump and will contest the election against Becerra, a former member of Biden’s cabinet.

Steyer emphasized that the campaign highlighted a need for political change. “This campaign proved that business-as-usual depends on politics-as-usual, and there is no going back,” Steyer stated. “We must continue to fight for a system where democracy serves Californians, not corporations – and where you do not have to be a billionaire to run on single-payer, or on breaking up monopolies, or on calling out a corrupt system when you see it.”

California’s governor’s race employs a “jungle primary” system, where all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top two finishers move on to November’s general election, allowing candidates from the same party to face off in the final contest.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.