Edward Ring writes for American Greatness about one high-profile candidate in a crowded California race for governor.
It seems impossible that a man like Tom Steyer could have a realistic chance at being one of the two top finishers in California’s June 2 jungle primary. But Steyer, like the other seven Democrats and two Republicans that are running viable campaigns in the crowded race, doesn’t have to appeal to a very large percentage of voters to come out in first or second place. He’s up against several politicians with durable constituencies, splitting the vote so thoroughly that it is conceivable that the top performer could win with only around 20 percent of the vote.
In this unusual situation, two things will matter more than they already do: money and a competent campaign. Steyer has enough money to go toe-to-toe with any other candidate. And he is running a very, very effective campaign. …
… But everything Tom Steyer’s doing exemplifies what has to be one of the most cynical alignments in modern political history. Steyer has secured the endorsements of three powerful unions: the United Domestic Workers, representing 250,000 home care and child care workers; the California School Employees Association, also representing an estimated 250,000 workers in school support services such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodians; and the California Nurses Association, which has more than 100,000 members.
It’s important to step back and examine the political agenda of these unions, most of which represent public sector workers. These unions are controlled by a hard-left leadership. They are party to a political agenda that, at least on the surface, would be anathema to anyone committed to a competitive capitalist economy. They support higher taxes, forced unionization, and escalating restrictions and regulations of private businesses. If there is anything that would epitomize everything they despise, both ideologically and emotionally, it would be hedge funds. And yet Tom Steyer’s billions of dollars in personal wealth came from his role as founder of San Francisco-based hedge fund Farallon Capital.
