California Gubernatorial Race Escalates Over Campaign Ad

The California gubernatorial race has intensified as billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra engage in a public dispute over campaign advertising [2]. The conflict centers on a television commercial released by Steyer that attempts to link Becerra to the criminal convictions of his former senior staff members [2].

Key takeaways

• Billionaire Tom Steyer released an advertisement titled "Risky" that suggests Xavier Becerra could face legal jeopardy due to his former aides' criminal convictions [2].
• Federal prosecutors have stated that Becerra was a victim in the corruption case involving his former campaign manager and chief of staff [2].
• Three individuals, including Becerra’s former chief of staff Sean McCluskie, pleaded guilty to fraud-related offenses involving the diversion of $225,000 [2].
• Attorneys for both campaigns have exchanged cease-and-desist letters, with Steyer’s team challenging the Becerra campaign to follow through on legal threats [2].

Dispute Over Campaign Conduct

The advertisement released by Steyer focuses on a federal corruption case involving former Becerra campaign manager Dana Williamson and former chief of staff Sean McCluskie [2]. Prosecutors alleged that these individuals, along with lobbyist Greg Campbell, diverted $225,000 from a dormant campaign account to McCluskie [2]. While all three defendants pleaded guilty to charges including fraud, federal prosecutors have previously stated that Becerra was not implicated in the charging documents [2].

In response to the ad, which claims Becerra "knew and did nothing," the Becerra campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter through attorney Nicholas Sanders [2]. Sanders characterized the commercial as "textbook defamation" and demanded its removal from circulation [2]. A spokesperson for the Becerra campaign, Jonathan Underland, accused Steyer of lying, stating that such behavior is not a quality voters desire in a governor [2].

Escalation of Legal Threats

Steyer’s campaign has shown no intention of pulling the advertisement, with attorney Ryan Hughes issuing a response that dismissed the defamation allegations [2]. Hughes effectively challenged the Becerra campaign to proceed with a lawsuit, stating that such an action would "make our day" [2]. While the Becerra campaign has threatened legal action, it has not yet indicated whether it intends to formally file a suit [2]. The confrontation marks a significant escalation in the 2026 California gubernatorial contest, occurring alongside other campaign developments such as reports of low attendance at candidate events [2].

Why it matters

The public feud highlights the increasingly aggressive nature of the 2026 California gubernatorial race as candidates compete for the frontrunner position [2]. By leveraging the criminal history of former aides, the Steyer campaign is attempting to create a narrative of political liability for Becerra, despite the candidate’s status as a victim in the federal case [2]. The willingness of both sides to threaten litigation suggests that legal and reputational battles may continue to play a central role in the campaign as the election approaches [2].