For much of his life in Democratic politics, Tom Steyer has sought to be a kingmaker rather than wear the crown.
The 62-year-old billionaire hedge fund manager-turned-activist is best known for using parts of his sizable fortune to fund a recent carousel of candidates and causes: addressing climate change, impeaching President Donald Trump and backing dozens of progressive politicians around the country, including 2018 Florida gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.
He’s now banking on that personal wealth giving him an unprecedented financial boost as he seeks public office himself. On Tuesday, Steyer said he would run for president in an announcement video posted online, saying he would run “to end corruption of our democracy by corporations and give more power to the American people.” He cast himself as an outsider who could tackle a broken political system and would seek to hold “the power elite in Washington, D.C.” accountable.
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
