Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer endorsed state Sen. Kevin de Leon in the Democratic primary against long-time incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a spokesperson for the de Leon campaign told the Washington Examiner Wednesday.
“Tom Steyer and I first came together over our shared values; united by a desire to grow California’s economy by cleaning up our environment and creating good-paying jobs at the same time. He is a good friend, a man of incredible integrity, and he doesn’t back down from a fight,” de Leon said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
“That’s why I’m proud to have him standing with me in this race, and I look forward to continuing our work for the people of California. Together we will set a new tone in Washington, D.C. to face the threat of climate change head-on, and beat back an administration that treats our state with hostility,” he added.
De Leon said he and Steyer first worked together on climate change legislation.
“I think he’s the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally,” Steyer said in a Tuesday interview. “I know him well and he’s a friend. We share a lot of values.”
De Leon is running against Feinstein, who has been in the Senate for 25 years, in the primary on June 5.
As of Tuesday, de Leon had raised $670,000 compared to Feinstein’s $10 million.
The California Democratic Party will not endorse Feinstein as it has in previous elections because she failed to receive 60 percent of delegate votes in a February vote. De Leon was the closest to 60 percent with 54 percent. Feinstein only got 37 percent.
Steyer said on Tuesday Feinstein had been an “outstanding public servant” but that de Leon is the “true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward.”
“I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de León,” Steyer added.
Steyer did not say if he will pour money into de Leon’s campaign
