Tom Steyer, who is running for governor of California, is reportedly enlisting the help of the political operatives who supported Zoran Mamdani’s bid for mayor in New York City.
Steyer, a former hedge fund manager and notable Democratic donor who previously sought the presidential nomination in 2020, is collaborating with the far-left political firm Fight Agency.
This consultancy is staffed by experienced campaign professionals, including those who have worked with Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
Rebecca Katz, a partner at Fight Agency, has a background that includes managing the political office of the late Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) in the Senate and contributed to Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s communication strategies.
In recent election cycles, she has been credited with playing a key role in Fetterman’s 2022 Senate win in Pennsylvania and Gallego’s campaign for Senate in Arizona, both of which were significant gains in crucial battleground states.
Katz revealed she was initially hesitant to take on Steyer, as the firm’s focus was on bolstering working-class candidates.
“When we started, our goal was to back more working-class candidates. Steyer doesn’t hail from that background. I kind of underestimated him and thought he didn’t quite get it,” she told a news outlet.
However, after discussing California’s economic issues with Steyer, she re-evaluated her stance.
“Is he like our other clients? No, he’s not. But does he grasp the issues? Is there a genuine solution behind his ideas? Absolutely,” she noted.
Katz remarked that Steyer shows a sharp understanding of the issues facing America, especially in California.
His campaign platform reflects the populist, anti-corporate ideals that Fight Agency has previously championed, reminiscent of the tactics used by Sanders, Fetterman, and Mamdani.
Steyer’s proposals involve closing corporate tax loopholes to finance public education, constructing one million homes to mitigate the housing crisis, dismantling utility monopolies to reduce electricity costs, and prohibiting corporate PAC funding in state elections.
Other members of Fight Agency have actively supported emerging Democratic candidates in high-stakes races.
T Tommy McDonald, a co-founder, has worked on over 200 campaigns across 30 states, notably serving as the lead media consultant for Fetterman’s Senate campaign.
His background includes media roles with Sanders during his presidential campaign and various House and state races.
Another co-founder, Julian Mulvey, is recognized as a key figure in Sanders’ 2016 presidential efforts and later created ads for Biden and the Democratic National Committee in 2020.
Morris Katz, who was the chief media strategist for Mamdani’s mayoral bid, has also provided advice for Osborne’s independent Senate campaign and worked on initiatives supported by various parties.
Fight Agency is also assisting Graham Platner, a left-wing Democrat vying to challenge Maine Governor Janet Mills for the nomination. Both Platner and Mills are looking to unseat incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
While specifics about Platner’s campaign have yet to be disclosed, the firm lists him among the candidates it has taken on since launching in January as part of its mission to support those ready to challenge the political status quo.
The Post has sought comments from both Steyer and Fight Agency.
As Steyer enters the competitive 2026 gubernatorial race, he’ll be up against a diverse group of Democratic candidates, including several current statewide officeholders and established party leaders such as Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Eric Swalwell, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
His initial strategy, involving a self-funded effort of $27 million, has allowed him to significantly surpass his competitors in funding.
