Liberal activist Tom Steyer said Monday he plans to put $30 million towards youth engagement in politics in 2018, but has no plans to run himself.
“I am not going to run for office in 2018, that’s not where I can make the biggest difference,” Mr. Steyer said at a press conference in Washington.
He said he plans to spend the money through his advocacy group NextGen America.
“Donald Trump’s election awoke a sleeping giant in our political discourse. A youth voting bloc that will be the X factor in a wave to remaking our understanding of what it is to be an American,” Mr. Steyer said.
The billionaire environmentalist, who has already backed several anti-Trump television ads pushing for impeachment, is one of the Democratic Party’s wealthiest donors. The anti-Trump ads have already cost him over $20 million, according to The Hill.
Republicans don’t seem worried about the activists’ influx of cash for Democratic causes, however, saying that it’s nothing more than “a distraction.”
“Tom Steyer can light as much of his money on fire as he wants, but doesn’t change that Democrats like [House Minority Leader] Nancy Pelosi view him as a distraction,” RNC spokesman Michael Ahrens said in a statement.
“If Democrats’ message for 2018 is a baseless impeachment threat that the majority of voters disagree with, they’re going to lose,” Mr. Ahrens added.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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