Stephen J. Cloobeck on Running for California Governor in 2026

California's Challenges and Cloobeck's Vision

• 🎯 Stephen J. Cloobeck, a Democratic candidate for California Governor in 2026, aims to navigate the state through its perceived "broken" status.
• 💡 He highlights issues such as affordability, homelessness, lack of transparency, execution, and enforcement as critical problems facing California.
• 🔑 Cloobeck emphasizes his business experience as founder and former CEO of Diamond Resorts International as a qualification to manage California's economy.

Addressing Regulatory Hurdles and Housing Affordability

• 🏗️ Cloobeck identifies California's over 380,000 regulations and increasing government full-time employees as major impediments to business and affordability.
• ⚠️ He proposes declaring an affordability emergency and pausing regulations to allow for proper housing construction, while still preventing bad actors.
• 🏠 The candidate stresses the need for a balanced approach to housing regulations across rural, suburban, and urban areas, suggesting a return to past successful models.

Economic Exports and Education Reform

• 📈 Cloobeck identifies innovation, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, travel, entertainment, and education as California's key exports.
• 🎓 He advocates for reinventing the Cal State system to be more trade-oriented and better prepare students for the real world.
• 💼 Cloobeck positions himself as the only candidate with executive experience needed to lead California effectively.

Political Philosophy and Dealing with Trump

• 🇺🇸 Cloobeck describes himself as a "fiscally conservative and socially responsible Democrat," trained by figures like Bill Clinton and Harry Reid.
• 🤝 He believes in maintaining integrity and values, contrasting this with his perception of Donald Trump's approach to branding and business.
• 🗣️ Regarding Donald Trump, Cloobeck states he has a direct line of communication and believes he can effectively represent California's interests while having respect for Trump.

Campaign Strategy and Recognition

• 🌟 Cloobeck asserts he has significant name recognition from his time on the TV show "Undercover Boss," where he achieved high ratings.
• 💰 He plans to be more efficient with campaign spending than other candidates, citing his existing name recognition and interest levels.
• 🚀 He believes his unique background and proposed solutions differentiate him in a crowded gubernatorial field.