Billionaire investor Tom Steyer announces run for California governor in wide-open race

Billionaire investor philanthropist and Democratic Party activist Tom Steyer publicized Thursday he s running for governor of California I m running for governor because Californians deserve a life they can afford Steyer disclosed in a post on social media Sacramento politicians are afraid to change this system I m not Steyer who also made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in joins a crowded field of candidates in heavily Democratic California to succeed Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom who is finishing his second and final term and has been positioning himself for a presidential run in The Democratic field of contenders for governor include former Orange County Rep Katie Porter former U S Wellness and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra former state Controller Betty Yee and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Leading Republicans include former Fox News commenter Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco Largest part polls consistently have shown Porter who ran for U S Senate last year but lost the primary to former Democratic Rep Adam Schiff the eventual winner and Republican baseball star Steve Garvey leading the field But Porter s polling numbers have stalled and a tense interview with a CBS reporter in October in which Porter threatened to walk out raised questions about her viability Check back for updates on this emerging story