EXCLUSIVE: “As governor, I will do whatever it takes to preserve and advance California’s leadership as the artistic and creative powerhouse of the world,” Tom Seyer said Friday during a Burbank roundtable with labor leaders and industry advocates.

In one of the most fractured gubernatorial races in California history, the hedge fund billionaire and 2020 presidential candidate has emerged as a real contender to replace Gavin Newsom next year. Leaning hard into progressive causes and issues, Steyer is polling close to suddenly surging former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.…