California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks to supporters during a campaign stop, outlining his vision for California’s future.

During a conference call hosted by the Black Women’s Leadership Initiative PAC, California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer addressed several hot-button issues, including reparations, health care and the rising cost of living in California.

Steyer, a billionaire philanthropist and former hedge fund executive, did not shy away from the topics. He is one of several leading candidates in the crowded governor’s race.

Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, who was also on the call, praised Steyer’s commitment to justice.

Kellie Todd Griffin said her organization has been watching Steyer and his political activities for some time.

“He didn’t see us as a group of many. He saw us as Black women and girls and understood the needs of Black women and girls as they experienced California,” Todd Griffin said.

Steyer said Black women have always played a pivotal leadership role in American politics and social justice.

“Black women and the Black community in general have led this country morally for much longer than I’ve been alive,” Steyer said.

He cited former Rep. Barbara Lee, who was the lone member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Steyer also said the governor’s race has three main candidates: Steve Hilton, whom he described as a MAGA candidate; Xavier Becerra, whom he called a corporate Democrat; and himself, whom he described as a progressive.

Steyer, whose net worth is estimated at $2 billion, has never held elected office. However, he has been involved in political campaigns as an organizer and major donor. He also briefly ran for president in 2020.

Right now, Steyer said he is working heavily on his ground game.

“We do have a good ground game,” he said.

He said he is also counting on people looking for something different in government.

“I’m hoping people want a change,” Steyer said.

Steyer said one of his big goals is to take California back from the corporations he said who currently run the state. He also said he was concerned about rising health care costs and is committed to single-payer health care, which he sees as a way of dropping costs.

“I’m for single-payer,” he said.

“This is a state where people literally can’t afford their health care, literally can’t afford their rent,” Steyer said.

Although Steyer is a billionaire, his website says he is committed to raising taxes on people like him. When asked about this issue, Steyer said he sees life as more than just holding on to money.

“I have other reasons for living than money,” Steyer said.

“I would much rather feel like I’m in a society that makes sense and that’s just, than just feel like I personally had a bunch of money that I was never going to use,” Steyer said.

“I want to be part of a society and create a society that’s much more just,” Steyer said.

Steyer added that someone like Lee has had more impact on society than someone like Elon Musk.

Steyer also touched on another hot-button political issue: reparations for the descendants of enslaved people, which he supports.

“I believe in America, we don’t move forward as a nation until we’ve had that conversation and until reparations have been paid,” Steyer said.

Steyer also talked about another major issue in California: the rising cost of rent. He said he is committed to building a million more homes and driving down the cost of rent.

“We need to make it affordable for people to buy a home,” he said.

“We have a very broad goal of building a million houses and making sure we drive down the cost so people can afford to buy them,” Steyer said.