Tom Steyer posted a campaign video with AB Hernandez the morning of the state championship prelims.
Hernandez then went out and won two of three girls' jumping events at the California state finals – and Gavin Newsom, who called all of this "deeply unfair," did nothing to stop any of it.
What Steyer said to Hernandez on camera – two days before the California primary – tells you everything about where the California Democratic Party actually stands.
Steyer Made His Position Clear Before the First Jump
With primary day two days away, Steyer posted a video to his social media account standing alongside Hernandez and the athlete's mother, Nereyda.
Hernandez spoke about being "outed" and "doxed."
Steyer responded: "It's the job of the governor to stand between danger and Californians. And I mean it, and to make sure that people are safe, and to protect them from all the maligned influences in this world."
Then he looked at Hernandez directly.
"I'm so proud of you for what you're doing," Steyer said.
Steyer posed for a photo with Hernandez and Nereyda after the video.
The danger Steyer wants to protect Californians from, in his telling, is not a biological male sweeping three girls' jumping events at the state championship.
The danger is the people objecting to it.
Hernandez Advanced to the State Finals in All Three Events Then Faced Humiliation in Long Jump.
Friday's prelims at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Clovis were not close.
Hernandez, a biological male competing as a girl for Jurupa Valley High School, took the top spot in the long jump with a mark of 20-05.50 – St. Ignatius's Ellie McCuskey-Hay finished second at 19-11.25.
In the triple jump, Hernandez won with 41' 8.5 while Zylah Coleman of St. Ignatius came in second at 40' 3.25 – more than a foot back.
Hernandez tied for fourth in the high jump, the first time all postseason the athlete failed to claim first in any event.
All three results punched a ticket to Saturday night's state finals, where Hernandez tried to defend two gold medals from last year.
Ultimately Hernandez placed third in the long jump and had to share the podium at that.
The California Interscholastic Federation's pilot program – the one the DOJ sued California over last July for failing to fix the Title IX violation it was meant to address – remains in effect.
Under that program, any biological female who finishes behind Hernandez is bumped up one spot and awarded a co-championship.
Newsom Said It Was Deeply Unfair and Then Stood Aside
Attorney General Pamela Bondi put it plainly when the DOJ filed suit in July 2025.
"The Governor of California has previously admitted that it is 'deeply unfair' to force women and girls to compete with men and boys in competitive sports," Bondi said. "But not only is it 'deeply unfair,' it is also illegal under federal law. This Department of Justice will continue its fight to protect equal opportunities for women and girls in sports."
Newsom made that admission on his own podcast in March 2025, telling conservative commentator Charlie Kirk: "It is an issue of fairness. It's deeply unfair."
California's response to the DOJ lawsuit was to refuse to sign the proposed resolution agreement and keep the policy exactly as it was.
The Rally Outside the Stadium
While Steyer was posting his video, former NCAA women's soccer player Sophia Lorey was organizing a "Save Girls Sports" rally outside the stadium.
"The message being sent to female athletes is clear," Lorey said. "Your opportunities, your records, your placement, and your hard work comes second to males."
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton stood at the microphone and went directly at Newsom.
"After all your lectures about compassion and justice and fairness, and there's something you say is deeply unfair and you've done absolutely nothing about it because you won't stand up to the fringe far-left ideologues that control your party," Hilton said.
Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton and state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw also spoke.
Shaw told the crowd: "History is going to remember those who stood up, and those who stood silent."
The Girl on the Other Side of the Podium
Reese Hogan has competed against Hernandez for three straight postseasons.
Last year, after finishing behind Hernandez in the triple jump, Hogan stepped up to the first-place podium spot alone – and the crowd roared.
She told Fox News Digital this week what that three-year run has actually cost her.
"This is my third year competing against a transgender athlete, and last year I was stripped of a CIF Title," Hogan said.
This weekend was supposed to be her shot at making that right.
Instead, Hogan didn't qualify for state in the high jump and buried her head in her father's chest after her final jump.
Tom Steyer is proud of the athlete who made that happen.
Gavin Newsom says it's deeply unfair.
Neither one of them did a thing about it.
Sources:
- Jackson Thompson, "AB Hernandez advances in California state championship as Save Girls' Sports activists rally nearby," OutKick/Fox News Digital, May 30, 2026.
- Jackson Thompson, "Steve Hilton rips Steyer for trans athlete support, leads 'Save Girls Sports' rally at track title meet," OutKick/Fox News Digital, May 29, 2026.
- Jackson Thompson, "Inside the trans athlete podium controversy sending political shockwaves in California ahead of elections," OutKick/Fox News Digital, May 2026.
- Jackson Thompson, "Trans athlete AB Hernandez takes girls' track and field state championships in California, defying Trump," Fox News Digital, June 1, 2025.
- "Justice Department sues California over transgender athlete policies," NBC News, July 10, 2025.
- Jackson Thompson, "California girls track star opens up on viral podium protest of trans opponent and if she'll do it again," OutKick/Fox News Digital, May 2026.
