Tom Steyer, the billionaire and California gubernatorial hopeful, faced backlash after admitting his lack of attention to state politics, making it difficult for him to assess the performance of outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

During a Monday interview, the Democratic candidate was prompted to evaluate Newsom’s two terms in office with a grade from A to F. However, Steyer skillfully sidestepped providing a direct answer. Instead, he remarked, “I think that people have come to really appreciate how Gavin stood up for California.”

KCRA 3 journalist Ashley Zavala pressed further, asking, “You won’t grade him?” Steyer candidly confessed, “I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.”

This evasive response drew significant criticism, particularly given Steyer’s ambition to lead the state. Critics were quick to point out the irony of aspiring to govern California without closely monitoring the incumbent governor’s tenure.

“I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade,” Steyer responded.

The former presidential candidate was showered with criticism for his non-answer.

“So let me get this straight … he is running for governor … spending millions of his own money to get elected … and he wants us to believe he isn’t following the current governor enough to give him a grade?” Adam Housley, former longtime Fox News journalist, wrote on X. “Hell… that disqualifies him immediately.”

I asked California candidate for governor Tom Steyer how he would grade Gavin Newsom for his two terms as governor.

He would not.

“I haven’t followed it closely enough to give him a grade.” pic.twitter.com/ILMQppUxXe

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) March 23, 2026

“So he wants to be governor of California but has not followed the performance of the current governor of California?” added former CNN journalist Chris Cillizza.

Many were similarly astonished at Steyer not paying closer attention to the top job in the state.

“He’s running for governor, but he hasn’t followed anything his predecessor is doing? This is a fundamentally unserious dork,” one critic wrote on X.

“He’s a billionaire and has no idea what being a Californian is really about. We need a governor of the people and by the people … not a billionaire,” another chimed in.

Others characterized the non-response as was a strategic move.

“There’s no advantage for Steyer in acknowledging the obvious truth, which is that Newsom has not done a good job as governor,” a person wrote.

The California Post contacted Steyer’s campaign for comment.

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