In a show of progressive unity, Yee joins Steyer's campaign focused on making California more affordable
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and climate advocate Tom Steyer announced he won the support of the highly respected former State Controller Betty Yee. Yee, who announced the suspension of her campaign for governor yesterday, cited Steyer’s deep commitment to working families, his dedication to protecting immigrant communities from ICE, his passion for fighting the climate crisis, and his dogged focus on moving California forward for all, not settling for a return to normalcy.
Read the transcript for endorsement video below:
Yee: Tom today, I am just really, really pleased to give my endorsement to become our next Governor of California.
Steyer: Like many Californians, I've looked up to Betty for years, not just because she's a progressive leader, not just because she has a brilliant mind and incredibly effective. I've looked up to Betty because her values are incredibly deep, incredibly consistent. And I want to be that kind of person.
Y: You know…I think people confuse the fact that if you have progressive values, that you can't be pragmatic and deliver that they actually are one in the same. And if you can really intertwine those. That's impact. That's called impact. And so I look at what you've done in terms of your values, where you've decided to put your emphasis and your resources and time as just delivering some of the biggest impacts, with respect to standing up our democracy and getting young people involved, certainly with respect to our climate and the climate crisis that we're facing. I support you because you have such old ideas that I know you're gonna be able to deliver.
S: No one knows how our government works and how it works, both at the state level, but also at the county and city level, better than Betty. So I am really hoping what has been a long term strong relationship will be a very practical partnership. And if we're actually going to get done things in California that has to get done having her expertise and her wisdom to make sure that we're doing it in a practical way so it can actually happen is something that honestly is irreplaceable.
Y: California should feel very comfortable about where we're headed in this near term, and I'm just really proud to support you.
As State Controller, Betty championed working people, protected the environment, and safeguarded California’s resources. She uncovered $7.3 billion in mismanaged spending, avoided external borrowing, and forced life insurance companies to pay benefits owed to families. She protected the retirement security of 3 million Californians—including 1 million teachers—and created the Foster Youth Tax Credit to support vulnerable youth. She also protected jobs during COVID-19, shut down the state’s last oil platform in the Santa Barbara Channel, and defended and expanded access to California’s coastline.
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