Five things Californians need to know about Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg is going all-in on California in his unorthodox bid to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination.

The former New York City mayor has skipped all four early voting states, won’t accept outside donations and is spending tens of millions of dollars on television ads.

Because California offers candidates more delegates than any other state in the country, Bloomberg sees an opportunity to make up ground. Here are five things you need to know about him as he campaigns across the Golden State:

1. He hasn’t always been a Democrat

Bloomberg insists he’s been a lifelong Democrat, even though he successfully ran for mayor as a Republican. He remained on the GOP ballot in his third re-election bid, he declared himself an independent.

“I was a Democrat longer probably than almost anybody else that’s running because I was a Democrat all the time I grew up and most of the time in New York,” Bloomberg said. “They just wouldn’t let me on the ballot to run for mayor, so I used the Republican line to do it. But if you take a look at all my values, everything I’ve done, whether it’s gay marriage, education, helping people, go right down the list. I think I have more Democratic qualifications than anybody that’s running. I’ve actually done this stuff. They talk about it.”

In the first two weeks of January, Bloomberg spent more than $1 million on TV ads in the Sacramento media market alone. He’s also a constant presence on social media, pouring millions onto his YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages.

2. He’s flooding the California airwaves

Bloomberg has spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars on political advertisements since declaring his bid for president in mid-November, with a large share of those messages being sent out to California voters. Bloomberg, who has an estimated more than $60 billion, says his heavy spending is necessary.

“The only ways I can get a message out is to spend money,” he told The Sacramento Bee after a Feb. 3 event in Sacramento. “I’m not asking other people to give me money. I’m spending my own money. All of these other candidates, when they’re in Congress they take money from these groups that they regulate. It’s just an outrage. If they want to do it, they have to explain to the voters what they’re doing and why my policy of not owing anybody anything but doing what’s right is the right one to do.”

3. He hasn’t put out all his policy views

Californians care about immigration, college debt, and many other issues. Bloomberg has yet to release details on how he’d address issues of foreign policy, higher education and immigration. Rather, his campaign website alludes to what he did as New York City’s mayor.

“You may not have seen it on the website, maybe we don’t have everything there, but just take a look at what I did in New York City in terms of protecting the immigrant communities,” he said.

4. He’s assembling the largest California operation in history

Bloomberg will soon have more than 20 offices and 800 staff members in the Golden State, making his campaign the largest California ground game in presidential primary history. By the end of January, his campaign said it made contact with more than 270,000 voters.

California has 494 delegates up for grabs in the March 3 primary election, and Bloomberg will need at least 15 percent locally or statewide to pick up any pledged delegates.

Asked if his campaign would be over if he didn’t pick up many delegates in the state, he replied, “No, I don’t think it’s over, but it would obviously be more difficult. We’re gonna win this.”

He has some personal ties to California, as he says his cousin has been a second grade teacher in the Los Angeles school system for 42 years He noted that he has business offices in the state.

5. He’d raise taxes, but not like Elizabeth Warren

While Bloomberg would raise his personal tax rate from 37 percent to 44.6 percent, he does not support a wealth tax of 6 percent on billionaires as Elizabeth Warren has called for. He fears that a huge tax on income would “dissuade people from working harder” and “create such a high rate that everybody focuses on gimmicks to avoid it.”

He said Warren’s idea “just does not work,” adding that the last time the United States had high a percentage of people’s incomes going to taxes “was ridiculous.”

“Today, it’s not a joke and we shouldn’t let it become a joke,” Bloomberg said.

This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 7:15 AM.