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Who Is Tom Steyer? Who Is Tom Steyer? Billionaire Makes His Debut on the 2020 Debate Stage
(about 2 hours later)
Tom Steyer, who made his first appearance in the Democratic debates on Tuesday night, is a hedge fund billionaire who has funded efforts to impeach President Trump and regularly decries “the corporate stranglehold on democracy.”Tom Steyer, who made his first appearance in the Democratic debates on Tuesday night, is a hedge fund billionaire who has funded efforts to impeach President Trump and regularly decries “the corporate stranglehold on democracy.”
The 62-year-old, who lives in San Francisco, started the hedge fund Farallon Capital in the 1980s and has funded the groups Need to Impeach and NextGen America. He sold his ownership stake in the hedge fund, which had major investments in coal, in 2012.The 62-year-old, who lives in San Francisco, started the hedge fund Farallon Capital in the 1980s and has funded the groups Need to Impeach and NextGen America. He sold his ownership stake in the hedge fund, which had major investments in coal, in 2012.
He has portrayed himself as a progressive outsider, calling for measures like decriminalizing illegal border crossings and expanding the Supreme Court. He has also emphasized climate change on the campaign trail. He has no prior experience in elected office.He has portrayed himself as a progressive outsider, calling for measures like decriminalizing illegal border crossings and expanding the Supreme Court. He has also emphasized climate change on the campaign trail. He has no prior experience in elected office.
Mr. Steyer, a major Democratic donor, has been dismissive of party leaders’ reservations about impeachment. He has directed tens of millions of dollars into television commercials in which he argued that the president was a threat to the country. (The president responded on Twitter to one ad, calling Mr. Steyer a “weirdo.”)Mr. Steyer, a major Democratic donor, has been dismissive of party leaders’ reservations about impeachment. He has directed tens of millions of dollars into television commercials in which he argued that the president was a threat to the country. (The president responded on Twitter to one ad, calling Mr. Steyer a “weirdo.”)
When he announced his candidacy by video in July, Mr. Steyer borrowed from the rhetoric of leading Democrats from the party’s left flank, like Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.When he announced his candidacy by video in July, Mr. Steyer borrowed from the rhetoric of leading Democrats from the party’s left flank, like Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
But observers also noted that his profile, in some ways, lined up with Mr. Trump’s: a rich and confrontational outsider making a seemingly sudden decision to run for president.But observers also noted that his profile, in some ways, lined up with Mr. Trump’s: a rich and confrontational outsider making a seemingly sudden decision to run for president.
In an interview at the time, Mr. Steyer allowed that there were “some superficial comparisons” between himself and Mr. Trump, but said they would disintegrate “if you look at who I am, what I’ve done, what I stand for.”In an interview at the time, Mr. Steyer allowed that there were “some superficial comparisons” between himself and Mr. Trump, but said they would disintegrate “if you look at who I am, what I’ve done, what I stand for.”
Before the debate on Tuesday night, Mr. Steyer had a national polling average of about 1 percent. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was leading the pack, at 26 percent.Before the debate on Tuesday night, Mr. Steyer had a national polling average of about 1 percent. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was leading the pack, at 26 percent.