Tom Steyer Draws Overflow Crowd in Santa Barbara, Pitches Housing Push and ICE Abolition Amid Polling Surge

Billionaire investor and climate activist Tom Steyer brought his gubernatorial campaign to a packed town hall Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, casting himself as an outsider pledging bold action on affordability, immigration and the environment.

“We need somebody who’s going to take on the status quo,” Steyer told the crowd. “That means someone who’s going to look with a fresh eye and be willing to make structural change. That’s me.” Pointing to past achievements, he added, “I’m the person who’s taken on the oil companies and beaten them, the tobacco companies and beaten them. We need a change in California.”

Housing affordability dominated audience questions. “We need to build a lot more houses, and we need to build them a lot faster and a lot cheaper,” Steyer said, adding that in the short term he would push to “greatly expand the renters tax credit.”

Steyer also drew loud applause with sharp criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement stating it’s a criminal organization that is violent and corrupt, claiming it should be abolished.

Organizers said about 300 people filled Fleischmann Auditorium, with roughly 100 more turned away when the venue hit capacity. Before taking the stage, Steyer addressed the overflow crowd and apologized for not booking a larger venue.

The event — part of his “Shared Prosperity” tour — featured an introduction by State Assemblymember Gregg Hart, who has endorsed Steyer.

Steyer’s visit came as the race reshuffles following Eric Swalwell’s recent exit. The non-partisan Emerson College Poll this week shows Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco at the top, with Hilton gaining four percentage points and Bianco gaining three since last month. Steyer is leading Democrats with 14% of the vote, followed by Becerra and former U.S. Rep Katie Porter tied at 10%. Becerra has seen a sharp increase in polling and social media support in the last few weeks as well.

Under California’s top-two primary, the highest vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will advance to November.

Steyer has picked up support from elected officials, labor unions and environmental groups, including the influential California Teachers Association. Still, some critics question his lack of traditional political experience and how his personal wealth squares with his progressive platform.

Local political figures in attendance included Santa Barbara City Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Oscar Gutierrez; Santa Barbara Unified School District board member Gabe Escobedo; former Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum; and several Democratic activists.