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. A top finish in the June 2 primary could mean that Steyer would carry the Democrats’ banner into the fall election. That race, in a very Blue California, could see Steyer face off against a Republican like Donald Trump-backed ex-Fox News host Steve Hilton or Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco.…