30 Days On The Road: Steyer’s “A California You Can Afford” Bus Tour Spans The State

CALIFORNIA – Since launching his “A California You Can Afford” Bus Tour, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and climate advocate Tom Steyer has barnstormed the state connecting with Californians at over 60 events in 32 cities (across 20 counties) about how he will take on the corporations and lower costs for working people. 

While Xavier Becerra answers pre-screened questions, evades the spotlight, and is supported by corporate special interests like Chevron, Big Tobacco, and Meta, Steyer is meeting voters where they are and discussing his plans to lower the cost of housing, healthcare, and utilities. 

Steyer’s promise hasn’t changed: meet as many voters as he can, hear from working Californians about the challenges they face, and out work the other candidates. Over the course of the month, Steyer has done just that and is making headlines across the state while doing it. 

Here’s what they’re saying about Tom Steyer criss-crossing the state: 

“For city leaders like South San Francisco Councilmember James Coleman, [Steyer's] proposal represents a creative solution to a longstanding issue, especially as local cities are increasingly strapped for revenue. ‘It would mean millions and millions of dollars to our schools and cities,’ he said.” (Redwood City – San Mateo Daily Journal)

"[O]n Thursday, Fonda, who has been arrested a number of times during pro-climate fights—gave her case for why Steyer is the right candidate to lead California. [...] 'It’s because they know the big money interests that are funding his opponent know that he will not kowtow to them. They know that he will stand up to Big Oil and make California healthier and safer for Californians,' she said." (Central LA – Daily Kos)

“In Ventura County, Steyer, spoke about the change he wants to bring to the state of California ‘It is time to change California, we the people are tired of the same, just the names change and we the people are tired of it,’ said Steyer to the cheering group. ‘Farm workers are an essential part of our community and they are treated terribly bad, they do not even have the most essential rights in our laws, that has to change,’ said Steyer.” (Ventura – Vida Newspaper)

“Attendee Diego Castillo, a first-year Cal Poly political science major, said he was excited to vote for Steyer because ‘he represents voters and not special interests,’ he told The Tribune. Another Cal Poly student, Tom Schilling, echoed that sentiment, saying that Steyer had his vote because he was a ‘beacon of hope’ amid a bunch of ‘corporate Democrat slop.’” (San Luis Obispo – SLO Tribune)

“Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer made a campaign stop in Davis on Friday, meeting with UC Davis students and local Democrats at Tres Hermanas while hitting on his points on affordability, housing, health care and youth political engagement as central themes of his campaign. Steyer told the gathered students that young people have long been underrepresented in politics despite historically serving as catalysts for social and political change.” (Davis – Davis Vanguard)

"Steyer heard from Dr. Jian Zhang, retired CEO of the 127-year-old Chinese Hospital, about the grievous problems caused by the cuts to healthcare during the current administration. Steyer has come out for single-payer healthcare in California, a stance that won him the endorsement of the Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT-I) aligned group Our Revolution, and single-payer champion Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont)." (San Francisco, AsAm News)

“For Steyer, the bus tour is both a campaign strategy and a test of connection: whether a candidate with national name recognition and the ability to self-fund can translate a cost-of-living message into support in communities where affordability is not an abstract issue, but a daily reality.” (Santa Ana – Asian Journal)

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