The Steady Drip

Hilton, Becerra Lead in California Governor's Primary (Connecting the Dots: The Smithsonian Institution, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Xavier Becerra, The Close Up Foundation, Tom Steyer, The Breakthrough Energy Coalition, The Center for American Progress, Mexico & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

By Newsmax Wires | Wednesday, 03 June 2026 06:29 AM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/california-governor-election/2026/06/03/id/1258374/

Republican businessman and commentator Steve Hilton emerged as the frontrunner in California’s closely watched gubernatorial primary, leading the race to secure one of two spots in November’s general election.

With just over half of ballots counted Wednesday, Hilton held 27.8% of the vote, ahead of former Biden administration official and Democrat Xavier Becerra, who received 25.4%.

Under California’s controversial “jungle primary” system, all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Democrat billionaire Tom Steyer trailed in third place with 19.6%, leaving Hilton in a strong position as Republicans seek to regain influence in a state long dominated by Democrat leadership.

The Associated Press has not yet called the primary for any candidate.

The state has a history of substantial vote updates after Election Day that can sometimes shift the outcome of elections as late-arriving mail and drop-off votes are counted. Hilton and Becerra were leading so far, with Steyer running slightly further back.

“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton told supporters after polls closed, reflecting his campaign message that the state needs a dramatic reset after more than 15 years of Democratic rule.

Steyer also campaigned on change, though through a vastly different lens. A former hedge fund manager turned climate activist, he pledged to raise taxes on corporations and the ultrawealthy like himself. He declared Tuesday that he would prevail over monied interests that strived to defeat him.

Becerra, meanwhile, pitched himself as the steady hand who can lead the state against intrusions from the Trump administration, touting his decades in public service in Congress, as state attorney general and as federal health secretary. Speaking to supporters, he said voters came around to his message after he initially was counted out.

“The underdog stayed in the fight,” Becerra said to applause.

California puts all candidates on a single primary ballot regardless of party, and the top two finishers advance to the November general election. About 60 candidates were on the ballot, most of them largely unknown to the state’s roughly 23 million voters.

The through line of the race was how to tackle the state's notoriously high cost of living.

Drivers were paying $6.08 per gallon at the pump as of the end of May, $1.65 higher than the national average, according to AAA. Meanwhile the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office has estimated that the typical home is about $775,000, more than double the national average.

And Californians pay the second-highest residential electricity rates behind Hawaii, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Steyer blamed the state's challenges in part on corporations that he said are ripping off Californians. He supports eliminating private health insurance in favor of a government-run system and pledged to break up major utilities and take on fossil fuel companies. Utility Pacific Gas & Electric was among the businesses spending money to defeat him.

“We should have a system based on fairness, not asking for fairness,” Steyer said Tuesday, adding that his campaign “scared the hell out of the corporate interests who are used to getting their own way.”

Hilton said he would make Californians' first $100,000 free of income tax, increase oil production and freeze in-state tuition at public colleges and to try to make the state more affordable. He also pledged to slash regulations and to “revive” the state's economic prowess by reversing Democratic policies that make things more expensive.

That message resonated with voters like Republican Rosamaria Cerezo, a 57-year-old substitute teacher voted for Hilton.

“Both my husband and I have two jobs each just to make ends meet,” she said.

Despite the state's challenges, the candidates delivered upbeat messages about its potential. They pledged to ensure government works to serve all of its roughly 39 million residents.

“I ran for the job because I know how important California is as a shining light to the world,” Becerra told supporters.

He argued that his years of political experience prepared him to lead, and he highlighted his tenure as attorney general, when he filed more than 120 legal actions during Trump's first term, as evidence that he can protect Californians' interests.

Democrat Tamara Alton, a 65-year-old marriage and family therapist, was voting for Becerra because of his experience.

“I'm going to go with him because I want somebody that knows what they're doing,” Alton said.

Becerra also referenced his background as the son of two Mexican immigrants. In a state where nearly a third of voters identify as Hispanic or Latino, he would be the first Latino governor in more than a century.

California, he said, “regularly makes the improbable seem inevitable.”

Steyer ran the most expensive primary campaign in the country, dumping more than $215 million of his own money into it including a massive amount on advertising. That's likely just a preview of what he would spend should he advance to the general election.

His spending prompted some of his rivals to accuse him of trying to buy the election.

But some Democratic voters said they chose Steyer despite uneasiness with his wealth because of his focus on tackling climate change.

Jude Mayer, 24, said she was not thrilled about voting for a billionaire but Steyer “is talking about the environment in the way that I want to hear about it.”

Connecting the Dots:

Thomas F. Steyer was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and a director at the Center for American Progress (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and the Center for American Progress (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, was a supporter for the Center for American Progress (think tank) and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Ganesh Sitaraman is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was Senator Elizabeth Warren’s senior counsel.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Mike Pence is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the vice president for the Donald Trump administration.

Xavier Becerra is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, was the president of the Joe Biden administration and the spent Thanksgiving with David Rubenstein.

David M. Rubenstein is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, the co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and spent Thanksgiving with Joe Biden.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ann M. Fudge is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the U.S. program advisory panel chair for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Smithsonian Institution.

Shirley Ann Jackson is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA).

John G. Roberts Jr. is an honorary member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA), the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution and married to Jane Sullivan Roberts.

Jane Sullivan Roberts is married to John G. Roberts Jr. and was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

David M. Rubenstein was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Joe Biden spent Thanksgiving with him, is the president of the Economic Club of Washington, the co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a regent at the Smithsonian Institution.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was the president of the Economic Club of Washington, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA).

John G. Roberts Jr. is an honorary member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA), the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, married to Jane Sullivan Roberts and the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution.

Mike Pence is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the vice president for the Donald Trump administration.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, was the president of the Joe Biden administration and the spent Thanksgiving with David Rubenstein.

Xavier Becerra is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute and the New America Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is Jonathan Soros’s father.

Jonathan Soros was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a director at the New America Foundation.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget was housed at the New America Foundation and is a paid for staff by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New America Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is Jonathan Soros’s father.

Jonathan Soros was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a director at the New America Foundation.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget was housed at the New America Foundation and is a paid for staff by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Xavier Becerra is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration and a director at the Close Up Foundation.

Broderick Johnson was a director at the Close Up Foundation and is the assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Ray H. LaHood was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the transportation secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Leon E. Panetta was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the defense secretary for the Barack Obama administration

Joel Jankowsky is the chairman for the Close Up Foundation and a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

John E. Sununu is a director at the Close Up Foundation and an adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Thomas F. Steyer is a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and a director at the Center for American Progress.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA) and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Jane Sullivan Roberts is married to John G. Roberts Jr. and was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Xavier Becerra is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration and a director at the Close Up Foundation.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute and the New America Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is Jonathan Soros’s father.

Jonathan Soros was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a director at the New America Foundation.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget was housed at the New America Foundation and is a paid for staff by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New America Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is Jonathan Soros’s father.

Jonathan Soros was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a director at the New America Foundation.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation (think tank), the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget was housed at the New America Foundation and is a paid for staff by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Broderick Johnson was a director at the Close Up Foundation and is the assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Ray H. LaHood was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the transportation secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Leon E. Panetta was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the defense secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Joel Jankowsky is the chairman for the Close Up Foundation and a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

John E. Sununu is a director at the Close Up Foundation and an adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Thomas F. Steyer is a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and a director at the Center for American Progress.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA) Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

David D. Hiller is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Carlos Pascual was a VP for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a U.S. ambassador for Mexico.

Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F. Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress (think tank), is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a board member for the International Crisis Group and a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.

Ernesto Zedillo was a board member for the International Crisis Group and the president of Mexico.

Thomas F. Steyer is a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and a director at the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Apple Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

AT&T Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Bank of America Corp. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

BMW of North America LLC was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Citigroup Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Coca-Cola Company was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Facebook was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

General Electric Company was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Bailout Company) was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Motion Picture Association of America was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

PG&E Corporation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Samsung Electronics Co. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Time Warner Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

T-Mobile USA, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Toyota Motor North America was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Visa Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Wells Fargo & Co. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carol M. Browner is a director, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration.

Tom Daschle is a director at the Center for American Progress and was the nominee for health and human services secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Ezekiel Emanuel is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was the health care policy adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Lawrence H. Summers is a distinguished fellow at the Center for American Progress and was the National Economic Council chairman for the Barack Obama administration.

Cassandra Q. Butts was the SVP for the Center for American Progress and the deputy White House counsel for the Barack Obama administration.

Philip J. Crowley was the director of homeland security at the Center for American Progress and the assistant secretary of state for the Barack Obama administration.

Derek Douglas was an associate director of economic policy at the Center for American Progress and a special assistant for urban affairs for the Barack Obama administration.

Bradley J. Kiley was a VP for the Center for American Progress and the director of management and administration for the Barack Obama administration.

Karen Kornbluh was a visiting scholar at the Center for American Progress and a policy director for Barack Obama.

Jeanne Lambrew was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the deputy assistant to the president for health policy for the Barack Obama administration.

Denis McDonough was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the chief of staff; former deputy national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Esther M. Olavarria was the director of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress and the deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Barack Obama administration.

Dan Restrepo was the Americas Project director at the Center for American Progress and a special assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Gene B. Sperling was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the assistant to the president for economic policy for the Barack Obama administration.

Todd Stern was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the special envoy for climate change at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration.

Melody C. Barnes was the EVP for the Center for American Progress, the domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration and Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Joel Jankowsky is a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and the chairman for the Close Up Foundation.

John E. Sununu is an adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and a director at the Close Up Foundation.

Broderick Johnson was a director at the Close Up Foundation and is the assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Ray H. LaHood was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the transportation secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Leon E. Panetta was a director at the Close Up Foundation and the defense secretary for the Barack Obama administration.

Xavier Becerra was a director at the Close Up Foundation, the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration, is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and a regent for the Smithsonian Institution.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic Policy Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by the Economic Policy Institute.

Richard J. Durbin is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a U.S. Senate senator and Charles E. Schumer’s Washington housemate.

Charles E. Schumer is Richard J. Durbin’s Washington housemate, the Senate Minority Leader and married to Iris Weinshall.

Iris Weinshall is married to Charles E. Schumer, the vice chancellor for the City University of New York, a friend of Merryl H. Tisch and was the transportation commissioner for New York (NY).

Merryl H. Tisch is a friend of Iris Weinshall, a trustee at the Sesame Workshop, a director at the International Rescue Committee and a friend of Michael R. Bloomberg.

Sesame Street is a Sesame Workshop program.

Carnegie Corporation of New York funded study that led to creation of the Sesame Workshop, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Vincent A. Mai is the chairman of the Sesame Workshop and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michael R. Bloomberg is an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a friend of Merryl H. Tisch.

Morton H. Halperin is a director at the ONE Campaign, a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Thomas F. Steyer is a director at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress (think tank), is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.

Thomas F. Steyer is a director at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Smithsonian Institution and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Mike Pence is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the vice president for the Donald Trump administration.

Xavier Becerra is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary for the Joe Biden administration.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, was the president of the Joe Biden administration and the spent Thanksgiving with David Rubenstein.

David M. Rubenstein is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, the co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and spent Thanksgiving with Joe Biden.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.