SAN FRANCISCO -- Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer may be reconsidering a bid for the White House.In January, Steyer told ABC7 News that he decided against running in the 2020 presidential election, but according to Politico, the San Francisco philanthropist and liberal activist held a private conference call with several organizations and his Sacramento office last week to share the news.Steyer has been an ardent opponent of President Trump's policies and has pumped millions into a campaign to impeach him. </s> • Former hedge-fund manager and Democratic activist Tom Steyer announced he’s running for president in 2020, making him a late entry into the race after previously ruling out a presidential bid back in January.
• Steyer, a billionaire and major Democratic donor, founded two organizations to advance Democratic causes: Need To Impeach and NextGen America, the latter of which focuses on climate change.
• In January 2019, Steyer said he did not plan to run for president and would be “dedicating 100% of my time and effort in 2019 towards Mr. Trump’s impeachment and removal from office.”
• Despite being a well-connected billionaire and fairly well-known in Democratic circles, Steyer will face an uphill battle qualifying for the next round of Democratic primary debates, which are scheduled to take place on Sept. 12.

Former hedge-fund manager and Democratic activist Tom Steyer announced he’s running for president in 2020, making him a late entry into the race after previously ruling out a presidential bid back in January.

Steyer, a billionaire and major Democratic donor, founded two organizations to advance Democratic causes: Need To Impeach, which is advocating for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, and NextGen America, a group combatting climate change and backing political candidates who support strong climate action.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Steyer denounced the role of corporate money in politics, saying “we’ve got to take the corporate control out of our politics…we care about improving the world and handing it on to the next generation in a way so they can lead better lives than we’ve had. If we don’t do those two things, shame on us.”

A spokesman for Steyer told The New York Times he plans to spend at least $100 million of his own money on his candidacy, dwarfing the fundraising performances of the current frontrunners.

In January 2019, Steyer said he did not plan to run for president and would be “dedicating 100% of my time and effort in 2019 towards Mr. Trump’s impeachment and removal from office.”

Steyer’s late entrance into the race comes after two other billionaires, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz decided against presidential runs.

In a January interview with INSIDER, Steyer criticized Schultz, who floated the idea of running as an independent, as “not ready for primetime.”

Read more: Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer says 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is the ‘real deal’

According to The Atlantic, which first reported Steyer’s planned late entrance into the 2020 field, Steyer is concerned that Gov. Jay Inslee‘s climate-centered presidential campaign isn’t gaining enough traction and thinks the field could use another powerful voice on climate issues.

Sources close to him also told the The Atlantic that Steyer, who is 62 and based in San Francisco, thought that a longshot presidential bid could be his only chance to run for political office.

Another person close to Steyer similarly told The Washington Post that Steyer doesn’t feel completely confident in the current field of 25 Democrats seeking the 2020 nomination and thinks his successful record as a businessman can give him an edge in the field.

“You never know with Tom until he actually pulls the trigger, but he’s telling a lot of people he works with and trusts that he’s going to do it,” a source close to him told The Post.

Despite being a well-connected billionaire and well-known in prominent Democratic circles, Steyer will face an uphill battle qualifying for the next round of Democratic primary debates, which are scheduled to take place on Sept. 12.

In order to make the stage, Steyer will have to both earn 130,000 unique donors and reach 2% in four Democratic National Committee-approved polls by August 29.

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Liberal mega-donor Tom Steyer on ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s possible independent 2020 run: ‘It doesn’t sound like he’s ready for primetime’

Trump lashes out at Tom Steyer, calling him a ‘crazed & stumbling lunatic’ days after a suspicious package was sent to the liberal billionaire </s> Billionaire Tom Steyer announced Tuesday that he will join the crowded field vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and promised to commit at least $100 million of his personal fortune to the campaign.

The 62-year-old hedge-fund manager made his announcement in a video message posted to Twitter, in which he took aim at drug companies, banks, and corporations, which he said should not have an “unlimited ability to participate in politics.”

“Almost every single major intractable problem, at the back of it you see a big-money interest for whom stopping progress, stopping justice is really important to their bottom line,” Steyer said, before promising to “take the corporate control out of our politics.”

“Corporations don’t have hearts, or souls, or futures. They don’t have children. They have a short time frames and they really care about just making money,” he continued. “If this is a banana republic with a few very, very rich people and everybody else living in misery, that’s a failure.”

The major Democratic donor, who has advocated and financed investment in renewable energy, said reducing corporate influence in politics will also aid in fighting the “devastating impacts of climate change.”

Steyer, who earlier this year said he’d decided not to run, has already missed the first Democratic primary debates, which were hosted by NBC and MSNBC at the end of last month.

Steyer, who has spent millions on a movement lobbying for President Trump’s impeachment, declined in his announcement to mention Trump by name. </s> Former hedge-fund manager and Democratic activist Tom Steyer announced he's running for president in 2020, making him a late entry into the race after previously ruling out a presidential bid back in January.

Steyer, a billionaire and major Democratic donor, founded two organizations to advance Democratic causes: Need To Impeach, which is advocating for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, and NextGen America, a group combatting climate change and backing political candidates who support strong climate action.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Steyer denounced the role of corporate money in politics, saying "we've got to take the corporate control out of our politics...we care about improving the world and handing it on to the next generation in a way so they can lead better lives than we've had. If we don't do those two things, shame on us."

A spokesman for Steyer told The New York Times he plans to spend at least $100 million of his own money on his candidacy, dwarfing the fundraising performances of the current frontrunners.

In January 2019, Steyer said he did not plan to run for president and would be "dedicating 100% of my time and effort in 2019 towards Mr. Trump's impeachment and removal from office."

Steyer's late entrance into the race comes after two other billionaires, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz decided against presidential runs.

In a January interview with INSIDER, Steyer criticized Schultz, who floated the idea of running as an independent, as "not ready for primetime."

Read more: Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer says 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is the 'real deal'

According to The Atlantic, which first reported Steyer's planned late entrance into the 2020 field, Steyer is concerned that Gov. Jay Inslee's climate-centered presidential campaign isn't gaining enough traction and thinks the field could use another powerful voice on climate issues.

Sources close to him also told the The Atlantic that Steyer, who is 62 and based in San Francisco, thought that a longshot presidential bid could be his only chance to run for political office.

Another person close to Steyer similarly told The Washington Post that Steyer doesn't feel completely confident in the current field of 25 Democrats seeking the 2020 nomination and thinks his successful record as a businessman can give him an edge in the field.

"You never know with Tom until he actually pulls the trigger, but he's telling a lot of people he works with and trusts that he's going to do it," a source close to him told The Post.

Despite being a well-connected billionaire and well-known in prominent Democratic circles, Steyer will face an uphill battle qualifying for the next round of Democratic primary debates, which are scheduled to take place on Sept. 12.

In order to make the stage, Steyer will have to both earn 130,000 unique donors and reach 2% in four Democratic National Committee-approved polls by August 29.

The billionaire leading the charge to impeach Trump is calling on Democrats to get the ball rolling after the Mueller report

Liberal mega-donor Tom Steyer on ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz's possible independent 2020 run: 'It doesn't sound like he's ready for primetime'

Trump lashes out at Tom Steyer, calling him a 'crazed & stumbling lunatic' days after a suspicious package was sent to the liberal billionaire </s> Billionaire Tom Steyer officially entered the presidential race on Tuesday, saying he would seek the Democratic nomination for president despite having previously ruled out a run in January.

In a video released Tuesday morning, Steyer said, “if you think that there’s something absolutely critical, try as hard as you can and let the chips fall where they may. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. My name’s Tom Steyer, and I’m running for president.”

Steyer, who has teased political bids before without ever launching a campaign, never fully ruled out a 2020 run despite his January announcement, a source familiar with the situation previously told CNN.

Steyer has operated as a funding force in Democratic politics in recent years, bankrolling candidates and organizations that promote liberal causes, including the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Steyer’s net worth reached $1.6 billion this year according to Forbes, a fortune he began amassing in 1986 when he launched his hedge fund Farallon Capital.

The 2018 House races marked the third consecutive election cycle in which Steyer spent more than $100 million dollars supporting Democratic candidates. But it’s Steyer’s efforts to impeach Trump which have made him the most visible, starring in self-funded television commercials in which he calls on Congress to remove the President from office.

Steyer joins a crowded Democratic primary that has already participated in the first round of primary debates.

A CNN poll last month showed former Vice President Joe Biden leading the race with 22% support followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who made steep gains following their debate performances. </s> Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer has formally launched his campaign for president, making a late entry into the sprawling 2020 Democratic field that has already held its first round of primary debates.

Steyer, who has in recent years cemented himself as the Democratic party’s largest donor, had long toyed with a presidential run only to rule it out in January.

But in a sharp reversal, Steyer entered the race on Tuesday – taking many Democrats by surprise and injecting the Democratic field with one of its most strident voices in favor of impeaching Donald Trump.

In an announcement video, Steyer said: “As an outsider, I’ve led grassroots efforts that have taken on big corporations and won results for people. That’s not something you see a lot of from Washington these days. That’s why I’m running for president.”

Steyer has spent the past year traveling the country to promote the agenda of his progressive group Need to Impeach, which has garnered more than 8 million supporters who wish to see Trump removed from the Oval Office. Steyer also funds the organization NextGen America, through which he has spent millions of dollars rallying voters around climate change and the environment.

Steyer reportedly told staffers at both groups last week that he was planning to announce a 2020 presidential bid.

Although Steyer has considerable resources to fund his own campaign, he could face challenges recruiting staff when other contenders have spent months – if not more – organizing in key battleground states. And like some other candidates, Steyer will likely struggle with name recognition in a field of nearly two dozen that includes heavyweights such as former vice-president Joe Biden and Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.

On Monday, California representative Eric Swalwell became the first candidate to drop out the race after struggling to gain traction, telling CNN: “I just found it the hardest thing to contrast myself in a field of 20-something candidates.”

In an interview with the Guardian in Los Angeles last year, Steyer discussed his goals to fund leftwing causes, offering a counter to the Koch brothers’ funding of conservative candidates and campaigns.

“Are we afraid to tell the truth because it might piss someone off? No,” he said, adding that it was time to “retake” the United States. “We’re trying to do something to protect the country, protect the democracy, protect the people. This is a fight between right and wrong and I don’t see why people want to sweep that under the rug.”

Steyer’s political efforts escalated after the 2012 election, focused on climate change. His liberal advocacy group, Next Gen America, also spent millions in efforts to increase youth turnout in the 2018 midterm elections.

His anti-Trump ad campaigns havemade him targets of Fox News and the president. After Fox & Friends ran a segment last year on Steyer’s impeachment push, the president lashed out, tweeting: “Wacky and totally unhinged Tom Steyer, who has been fighting me and my Make America Great Again agenda from beginning, never wins elections!”

Some Democrats opposed to impeachment have also brushed off Steyer.

Steyer’s Need to Impeach Pac held a town hall in New York earlier this year aimed to increase pressure on Congressman Jerry Nadler, the judiciary committee chairman. Asked about the town hall, Hakeem Jeffries, another New York congressman, responded, “Tom who?” </s> (CNN) Billionaire Tom Steyer officially entered the presidential race on Tuesday, saying he would seek the Democratic nomination for president despite having previously ruled out a run in January.

In a video released Tuesday morning , Steyer said, "if you think that there's something absolutely critical, try as hard as you can and let the chips fall where they may. And that's exactly what I'm doing. My name's Tom Steyer, and I'm running for president."

Steyer, who has teased political bids before without ever launching a campaign, never fully ruled out a 2020 run despite his January announcement, a source familiar with the situation previously told CNN

Steyer has operated as a funding force in Democratic politics in recent years, bankrolling candidates and organizations that promote liberal causes, including the impeachment of President Donald Trump . Steyer's net worth reached $1.6 billion this year according to Forbes, a fortune he began amassing in 1986 when he launched his hedge fund Farallon Capital.

The 2018 House races, which Steyer spent over $100 million on, marked the third consecutive election cycle in which Steyer spent millions supporting Democratic candidates. But it's Steyer's efforts to impeach Trump which have made him the most visible, starring in self-funded television commercials in which he calls on Congress to remove the President from office.

Steyer joins a crowded Democratic primary that has already participated in the first round of primary debates.

A CNN poll last month showed former Vice President Joe Biden leading the race with 22% support followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who made steep gains following their debate performances.

Steyer's late entry to the race makes it highly unlikely that he will qualify for the second round of Democratic debates hosted by CNN, set for the end of July. To make the stage in under three weeks, he'll need to receive campaign contributions from 65,000 individuals and receive 1% support in at least three DNC-approved polls.

And Steyer will face immediate resistance by the already-crowded Democratic field. The New York Times reported that Steyer has pledged to spend $100 million on his bid, putting him directly at odds with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has sworn off private, high-dollar fundraising events during her primary campaign, and vocally criticized the political influence of billionaires and corporations.

In January, Warren said: "No to the billionaires, whether they are self-funding or whether they're funding PACs. We are the Democratic Party, and that is the party of the people. That's how we not only win elections, that's how we build movements that make real change."

And asked about Steyer's possible entry to the race on Monday, Warren said that "every one of us should be held responsible for the kind of campaign we run. Period."

She continued, "I'm careful about what I say about other Democrats, but there's a second part. I don't go to closed-door fundraisers, I don't hang out with millionaires and corporate CEOs. I'm building a grassroots movement and I think as Democrats we should ask that of every single one of them. Do this grassroots style."

Correction: This story has been updated to correctly state the amount Tom Steyer has spent in past election cycles. </s> Billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer has privately told friends and associates in recent days that he plans to enter the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to two Democrats familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to speak publicly.

While Steyer announced in January that he would not seek the White House, he has grown dissatisfied with the Democrats’ 2020 field and is now eager to jump into the contest, the people said, despite some of his confidants and friends warning him about the challenges and political cost of a bid.

The former hedge fund manager could make an announcement Tuesday, the people added, but a firm rollout plan is still being deliberated.

“You never know with Tom until he actually pulls the trigger, but he’s telling a lot of people he works with and trusts that he’s going to do it,” one of the Democrats said, when asked about the discussions. “He wants in.”

Steyer, 62, built his fortune running a hedge fund, Farallon Capital, but sold his shares in the company in 2012. Forbes estimates his net worth at about $1.6 billion — of which Steyer has committed half to charity, in accordance with a Giving Pledge he made.

[Tom Steyer, proponent of impeaching Trump, pushes campaign to disbar attorney general]

A Steyer campaign would likely focus on impeaching and defeating President Trump and climate change — two causes that have animated Steyer’s advocacy and where he has become a prominent national voice. Steyer’s Need to Impeach group has generated a large membership list and held town halls across the nation.

But Steyer would not be the only liberal with that pitch in the field. Gov. Jay Inslee (Wash.), for instance, has made the environment central to his campaign and called Trump a threat to national security.

Steyer, one of the Democratic Party’s wealthiest activists, would bring both grass-roots know-how and immense capital to an already crowded race. And, having spent millions in the 2018 election cycle, he has a wide network of allies in the party even though some Democratic leaders are wary of him and the way he tried to pressure them to impeach Trump before the conclusion of the special counsel investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

[Trump lashes out at ‘Weirdo’ Democratic donor Tom Steyer in late-night Twitter barrage]

Heather Hargreaves, a veteran Democratic field organizer who worked on President Obama’s 2008 campaign, is expected to manage the campaign, the people said. She is a top aide to Steyer and serves as executive director of NextGen America, a Steyer-founded advocacy group. Associates frequently describe Hargreaves as Steyer’s leading political strategist.

Steyer and Hargreaves did not respond to requests for comment late Sunday.

Steyer’s move toward a 2020 campaign was first reported by The Atlantic.

The super PAC Steyer founded in 2013 — NextGen Climate (now known as NextGen America) — contributed about $74 million to Democratic causes during the 2014 midterm elections — making him the single-biggest individual donor that year — as well as $96 million in 2016 and nearly $61 million during the 2018 midterms.

He has also contributed to numerous state-level campaigns and environmental initiatives in California, as well as to the presidential campaigns of John F. Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Obama. </s> Topline: After deciding not to run in January, billionaire hedge fund manager and adamant Trump critic Tom Steyer changed his mind and announced a presidential run Tuesday, becoming the 25th Democratic candidate after Eric Swalwell dropped out just hours before.
• Steyer came to wider prominence after running cable commercial campaigns advocating for impeaching Trump, starring himself.
• Although it was widely reported in January that Steyer decided to opt out of a 2020 run, an unnamed source said Steyer never completely ruled one out, according to CNN.
• Steyer donated hundreds of millions to Democratic candidates over the past three election cycles, and spent $100 million on the 2018 House races alone.
• Steyer plans to spend another $100 million on his presidential run, according to the New York Times.
• “Americans are deeply disappointed and hurt by the way they’re treated by what they think is the power elite in Washington, D.C.,” said Steyer in his video announcement. The video includes images of Paul Manafort, Bernie Madoff, and Jeffrey Epstein (who was just indicted Monday for sex trafficking and conspiracy,) implying the Trump administration stands for corruption, greed, and other criminal activities.

﻿Key background: According to Forbes, Steyer spent 26 years running hedge fund Farallon Capital, before selling his stake in 2012 to focus on politics and the environment. He spent $65 million backing Democratic candidates and environmental causes in the 2016 election. With Trump’s ascendancy to the White House, Steyer formed Need To Impeach, dedicated to getting Trump removed from office, and the Need To Vote and NextGen Rising voter mobilization efforts (which he spent another $80 million on.)
U.S. billionaire Tom Steyer announces his run for nomination by the United States Democratic Party in the 2020 United States presidential election.