Tom Steyer’s Anti-ICE Stance Boosts California Gubernatorial Bid with $115M Ad Blitz

California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks after a gubernatorial debate on April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images)

As the dust settles from Eric Swalwell’s political implosion in the California gubernatorial race, Tom Steyer is seizing the moment with a massive ad campaign and a bold anti-ICE platform. Steyer, a billionaire liberal donor and environmental activist, has spent approximately $115 million on advertising—nearly 30 times more than his closest Democratic rival.

Polling Surge Following Swalwell’s Exit

Swalwell’s withdrawal from the race has reshuffled the Democratic field. According to a new Emerson poll, Steyer now leads with 20% support, followed closely by Xavier Becerra at 19%. Becerra, a former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has also seen a bump in support post-Swalwell’s exit.

Steyer has further solidified his position with a major endorsement from the California Teachers Association, which had previously backed Swalwell before his withdrawal.

Democratic Disarray Raises GOP Hopes

Despite Steyer’s rise, the race remains fluid. The absence of a clear frontrunner has fueled concerns that Democratic infighting could allow two Republicans to advance to the gubernatorial runoff under California’s jungle primary system.

Steyer’s Anti-ICE Campaign Strategy

Steyer has positioned himself as the most aggressive opponent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the race. A Washington Post poll from last fall found that 75% of Democratic voters and 60% of independents view billionaire political spending negatively. However, Steyer has leveraged widespread opposition to ICE to his advantage.

In a recent blog post, Steyer outlined a five-point plan to dismantle ICE, including:

• Abolishing ICE entirely.
• Jailing ICE agents who have violated the law.
• Forbidding racial profiling by all law enforcement agencies.
• Creating a new investigative unit to monitor ICE operations in California.
• Improving conditions in ICE detention centers.

Steyer has described ICE as a “violent extremist group” and argued for its dismantling. In an interview last week, he stated:

“We need immigration services, we need it absolutely, but we don’t need a criminal organization with masks and assault rifles terrorizing our citizens and racially profiling them, and it’s not right.”

Reactions from Trump and Elon Musk

Steyer’s rise has drawn sharp reactions from prominent figures. Donald Trump criticized Fox News’s coverage of Steyer, fearing it could inadvertently boost his candidacy. Trump expressed concern that Steyer might be “put into play” to win the race.

Elon Musk also weighed in, retweeting a screenshot of the opening to Steyer’s blog post with a single-word reaction: “Wow.”

Endorsement and Debate Highlights

Steyer’s anti-ICE stance has resonated with some voters and commentators. Jean Guerrero, a New York Times opinion contributor who moderated a recent California gubernatorial debate, wrote that while Democratic candidates should take a stronger stance on immigration, Steyer “came across as the boldest defender of immigrants” on the debate stage.

Guerrero added:

“We need immigration services, we need it absolutely, but we don’t need a criminal organization with masks and assault rifles terrorizing our citizens and racially profiling them, and it’s not right.”