Steyer's Million-Dollar Gamble in California Governor Race

0:00On April 19, billionaire Tom Steyer is dropping massive cash into California's wide-open governor race, flooding TV, cable, radio, and phones with. His ads, he's shelled out or booked over $115 million so far, almost 30 times what his closest Democratic rival has spent. That's way ahead even when you add up all the other candidates and their support groups. Mail in ballots drop next month ahead of the June 2nd primary, where the top two finishers advance no matter their party. Steyer's pushing hard on issues like cutting household costs and slamming federal immigration raids. But his rivals like Katie Porter are calling it a billionaire bid to buy the top job. Voters and experts aren't biting as hard as you think. Poles show Steyer ticking up a bid, but he's stuck in a tight pack with Porter, Republican Steve Hilton, and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco. Veteran strategist Bill Karek says more ads won't fix whatever's holding Steyer back, since the race feels frozen without a breakout star.

1:01History backs that up. Big spenders like Meg Whitman, with $178 million in 2010, Rick Caruso's over 100. Million for LA Mayor in 2022, and even Steyer's own 2020 presidential run all flopped, despite the cash. Eric Swalwell just bowed out over sexual assault claims he denies, shaking things up. Steyer grabbed the keen eye from the California Teachers Association after they ditched Swalwell, and President Trump backed Hilton. With Democrats worried about splitting votes in this top two system, the field still anyone's game as ballots roll out. I'm Cory with the story. That's your US News Today update, AI-powered, and always on.