Politics

Steyer Officially Announces

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Billionaire Tom Steyer jumped into the crowded field of Democratic presidential hopefuls Tuesday.

“It’s true. I’m running for president,” Steyer wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning with a link to a campaign video.

Steyer, who is behind the anti-Trump “Need to Impeach” campaign, appeared poised for a 2020 run in January but backed off. Now the 62-year-old is making the leap as the Democratic field seems to be in want of a clear frontrunner.

Steyer will need to carve out his own space in the 2020 field. But one of his key issues, climate change, is already the focus of another candidate, Jay Inslee. Inslee’s campaign also hired people who have worked for NextGen America ⁠— Alex Fujinaka will serve as Inslee’s deputy political director and Maggie Thomas as deputy policy director.

Steyer is vocal about addressing what he characterizes as a climate crisis but may not be on board with the Green New Deal, unlike 2020 candidates including Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He called it a “first draft” in February, reported The Hill.

Steyer’s announcement comes after Politico reported Monday he was reconsidering a run.

“He’s definitely focused on the [fact that the] economy is not as good as people are making it out to be,” a person with knowledge of Steyer’s plans said according to Politico.

Roughly 20 candidates are competing for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Steyer’s announcement comes a day after California Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is dropping out Monday.