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Corporate Backers Finance Ads Calling Steyer Corporatist

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Corporate giants finance TV ads that label billionaire Tom Steyer a corporatist as he runs for California governor.
Steyer self-funds his campaign with $130 million and runs ads urging taxes, utility break-ups, and a health system CalCare.
Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and California Nurses Association endorse Steyer while Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt fund the ads.
DISCLOSE Act requires ad sponsors to be listed on screen, exposing private-interest money.

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Story summary

Corporate giants finance TV ads that label billionaire Tom Steyer a corporatist as he runs for California governor.
Steyer self-funds his campaign with $130 million and runs ads urging taxes, utility break-ups, and a health system CalCare.
Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and California Nurses Association endorse Steyer while Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt fund the ads.
DISCLOSE Act requires ad sponsors to be listed on screen, exposing private-interest money.