California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer dodged answering how he would grade the current governor’s two terms on Sunday.
Steyer is one of many Democrats running to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in this November’s election. A reporter asked Steyer how he would grade the term-limited governor’s leadership from A to F, to which Steyer responded while laughing, “I don’t know.”
“I don’t know. I think that people have come to really appreciate how Gavin has stood up for the state of California,” Steyer told California Politics 360.
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Reporter Ashley Zavala pressed Steyer on declining to grade Newsom’s tenure, and Steyer reiterated his decision not to. He added, “I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.”
Zavala ended her interview by asking Steyer what three words he would use to describe California under his leadership. Steyer paused for a bit, then responded, “Prosperous … Just … Shared values.”
Steyer will be in the next gubernatorial debate on Tuesday, where he will compete against Democrats San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Republicans former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Political Future and ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles are hosting this debate.
California has a jungle primary, meaning the two candidates who get the most votes on primary Election Day will compete in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Primary Election Day in California is on June 2.
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Newsom has yet to endorse a successor. Currently, he is highly favored over former Vice President Kamala Harris for a 2028 presidential run among California Democrats, outpacing Harris by 19% from recipients.
The Washington Examiner contacted Steyer for comment, and Newsom’s office declined to comment on the gubernatorial race.
