Tom Steyer announces anti-corruption plan in California governor's race

May 22, 2026

Tom Steyer is pitching a sweeping anti-corruption platform for California governor, which is good news for voters frustrated with money in politics and bad news for lobbyists and oil companies.

  • Steyer would create an anti-corruption director inside the governor's office and donate his salary to fund the effort.
  • He wants to ban corporate spending in California elections by threatening to revoke the corporate charters of companies that try.
  • A new major violations unit would actually prosecute lobbyists and corrupt officials, backed by more funding for the state Department of Justice.
  • Big oil has spent $34 million trying to influence California politics, and rivals like Bisera are still taking oil and corporate PAC money.
  • The Young Turks endorsed Steyer based on this plan, while warning he will be held accountable if he fails to follow through.

Outlook: If Steyer wins and delivers, California could become a model for getting money out of state politics; if he doesn't, expect the same backlash that hits every other politician who breaks big promises.

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