‘Democrats Need To Stop Snipping At Each Other’: Political Operatives Annoyed Billionaire Showed Up To Party

In the lead-up to California’s Nov. 4 special election to approve its proposed Democratic gerrymander, state party leaders are butting heads over messaging strategy.

Democrat mega-donor and failed 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer caused a stir when his last-minute early October $12 million ad buy featured a self-given monologue highlighting his opposition to President Donald Trump, which some Democrats deemed too personally motivated.

“The Democratic Party were furious at me for organizing the Need to Impeach campaign, but we saw the threat,” Steyer said in the ad. “It’s Texas versus California. You want to beat Trump? Democrats can’t keep playing by the old rules. Vote yes on Prop 50, and let’s stick it to Trump.”

Proposition 50, the only statewide measure on California’s November ballot, would temporarily amend the state’s Constitution to allow its legislature to draw new congressional maps through 2030 — likely netting the Democratic party five additional U.S. House seats. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative Democrats pushed the measure after Texas Republicans enacted mid-decade congressional remaps expected to net the GOP their own five seats in the 2026 election.

“We’re not sure why he’s so obsessed with promoting himself,” an anonymous senior California House Democrat told Politico