The California governor’s race has taken an unexpected turn with the sudden exit of Eric Swalwell, a key contender and former Representative for California’s 14th District, whose career has been marred by scandal. This development seems to have opened a door for Tom Steyer, a billionaire ex-hedge fund manager and once-failed Democratic presidential hopeful from the 2020 campaign. Steyer, known for his candid admission of being somewhat detached from the current state affairs, is reentering the political fray.

RELATED: Watch: Billionaire CA Gov Candidate Tom Steyer’s Puzzling Answer About Gavin Newsom’s Job Performance

BREAKING: Eric Swalwell’s Resignation Is Official, Effective Immediately – Here’s What’s Next

In the wake of Swalwell’s dramatic exit, Steyer has swiftly surged in early polling. Seizing the moment, he released a Substack post and an X article on Tuesday, revealing positions that are more radical than many expected.

Steyer’s stance goes beyond the typical blue state resistance to working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He argues not only for non-cooperation but also for the incarceration of ICE agents and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel.

His rhetoric suggests a call for upheaval, almost like advocating for an insurrection. If you find this hard to believe, you can read it in his own words in his article titled:

How California Can Put ICE in Jail

Fox News’ Bill Melugin posted about some of the incredible details:

NEW: CA gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer (D) releases an immigration platform that is radically left of Gov. Newsom. It includes:

– Abolish ICE
– Put ICE agents in jail & “treat them like the mob”.
– Bring those “kidnapped & detained by ICE back home.”
– Give CA AG power to… https://t.co/XqM8eK7Hhf

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 14, 2026

Steyer apparently wants to see California officers arresting and jailing federal law enforcement. Assuming Trump would still be in office when this went down, there is no chance in Hades that he would stand for that, and things could go south fast. 

Melugin’s post continues:

– Give CA AG power to imprison ICE agents & their leadership.

– Taxpayer funded legal representation & support for illegal aliens.

– Ignore a SCOTUS ruling that allows ICE to utilize to use race, language, job, and location to contribute to “reasonable suspicion” for immigration arrests, and instead, “California should take matters into our own hands and extend legal protections to its residents, despite the federal governments failure.”

“This is about our right as a state to protect our residents,” Steyer says.

I read the rest of Steyer’s statement so you don’t have to. To me, it sounds like an open call to violence against the federal government, an exhortation to “take to the streets,” to ignore SCOTUS, and to start what would amount to a civil war:

I’ve made it clear: ICE must be abolished. ICE is acting like a criminal organization, carrying out indiscriminate racial profiling and using violence, intimidation, terrorism, and the murder of Americans to extend Trump’s rule by fear.

It’s not enough for Democrats to simply engage in rhetoric, and “stand” against ICE or Trump. California must build a system that fights fire with fire. To stop this authoritarian takeover, we must counter ICE head-on, and go after both their agents on the streets and their leadership within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Is California going to “go after” our constitutionally provided for federal government and use Golden State taxpayers’ money to engage in hostilities with lawful agencies enforcing rules enacted by our democratically elected congressmen? What world are we living in?

We’ve seen a lot of crazy rhetoric from the likes of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), and their ilk, but this seems to me to be taking things to a new — and very dangerous — level.

Steyer goes on to list a series of anti-ICE measures he would enact, including bringing deportees back, if you can believe that. They’re all in a similarly incendiary vein, but his conclusion should give you the shudders.

We’ll let ICE know: in California, you obey our laws and respect our residents, or you go to jail.

I’ve always considered Steyer somewhat of a bore, but my opinion has changed — now, he comes across as some sort of Antifa maniac. 

Editor’s Note: Democrats are fanning the flames and raising the rhetoric by comparing ICE to the Gestapo, fascists, and secret police.

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