Billionaire Tom Steyer Draws Crowd in Santa Barbara as Gubernatorial Race Heats Up

Steyer positions himself as a political outsider willing to challenge the status quo in California.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:19am

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A cinematic painting of a solitary campaign bus parked on a dimly lit street, the vehicle's silhouette reflected in a puddle and bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight, conceptually representing the high-stakes political race unfolding in California.A billionaire candidate's campaign stop in Santa Barbara underscores the high-stakes battle for California's gubernatorial seat.Santa Barbara Today

Billionaire investor and climate activist Tom Steyer made a campaign stop in Santa Barbara, California on Wednesday, speaking directly to voters at a packed town hall event. Steyer, who is running for governor of California, positioned himself as a candidate willing to take on entrenched systems and make structural changes in the state.

Why it matters

As the California governor's race gains momentum, Steyer's campaign stop in Santa Barbara highlights his efforts to connect with voters across the state, particularly on key issues like the affordability crisis, climate action, and government accountability.

The details

During the town hall event, Steyer emphasized his past efforts taking on major industries like oil and tobacco companies. He also discussed his plans to address the state's housing crisis, including expanding the renters tax credit. Steyer also leaned into his reputation as a wealthy businessman advocating for higher taxes on the ultra-rich, telling reporters 'I'm a billionaire who wants to tax billionaires.'

  • Steyer made the campaign stop in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Tom Steyer

A billionaire investor, climate activist, and candidate for governor of California.

Butch Ware

The Green Party gubernatorial candidate, who will be interviewed by KEYT on Thursday.

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What they’re saying

“We need somebody who's going to take on the status quo. That means someone who's going to look with a fresh eye and be willing to make structural change. That's me.”

— Tom Steyer, Gubernatorial Candidate

“The biggest issue in housing is that we need to build a lot more houses, and we need to build them a lot faster and a lot cheaper. But in the short run, I'm going to push to greatly expand the renters tax credit.”

— Tom Steyer, Gubernatorial Candidate

“I'm the person who's taken on the oil companies and beaten them, the tobacco companies and beaten them. We need a change in California.”

— Tom Steyer, Gubernatorial Candidate

What’s next

KEYT will continue to follow developments in the California governor's race and cover local campaign stops, including an interview with Green Party candidate Butch Ware on Thursday.

The takeaway

Steyer's campaign stop in Santa Barbara highlights his efforts to position himself as a political outsider willing to challenge the status quo and make structural changes in California. As the governor's race heats up, Steyer's focus on issues like the affordability crisis, climate action, and government accountability will likely be key factors in shaping the debate.