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California Senate Seat Heats Up as Tom Steyer and Kamala Harris Enter the Fray

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

California Attorney General Kamala Harris and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer have declared their candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat that Barbara Boxer will vacate in 2016. Harris, 50, was the first to formally declare her candidacy, touting her record as a fighter for consumers, equal rights, and the next generation. Steyer, 61, outlined the case for his own run, citing his experience as a climate champion and his commitment to shaking up Washington. The two would be among the most formidable contenders for the seat, alongside former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has said he is seriously considering a run.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kamala Harris has declared her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat, citing her experience as a fighter for consumers, equal rights, and the next generation.
  • Tom Steyer has announced his intention to run for the seat, citing his experience as a climate champion and his commitment to shaking up Washington.
  • The California Senate seat is expected to be an exorbitantly expensive contest, with both Harris and Steyer having significant fundraising potential.
  • Harris has a solid fundraising base in California from her two statewide runs and her close alliance with President Barack Obama.
  • Steyer has pledged to give away the bulk of his $1.6 billion fortune to public interest and philanthropic causes during his lifetime.
  • Several lesser-known candidates could face great difficulty raising the money needed to run, including Rep. Loretta Sanchez and Rep. John Garamendi.

Statistics:

  • Kamala Harris has raised $35 million for her 2010 Senate race against Carly Fiorina.
  • Tom Steyer's NextGen Climate Action Committee spent $74 million in the midterm elections, mostly funded by Steyer's own money.
  • Steyer's net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $1.6 billion.
  • The California Senate seat is expected to be an exorbitantly expensive contest, with both Harris and Steyer having significant fundraising potential.

Sources:

  • Steyer, T. (2015, [no date given]). Huffington Post. [Source not explicitly dated or attributed]
  • Harris, K. (2015, [no date given]). Campaign webpage. [Source not explicitly dated or attributed]
  • Sanchez, L. (2015, [no date given]). Facebook post. [Source not explicitly dated or attributed]
  • Steyer's Net Worth. Forbes. [accessed 2015, no date given, but actual publication date: September 15, 2014].

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