Candidates for California governor tangle in testy debate with mail voting already underway – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Los Angeles — Seven leading candidates vying to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom squared off in a contentious CNN debate Tuesday night, just as mail ballots began arriving at voters’ homes ahead of the June 2 primary.[1][2] With gas prices topping $6 a gallon and no frontrunner in sight, the two-hour exchange at East Los Angeles College highlighted deep partisan rifts on everyday economic pressures.[3] The top-two primary system raised the stakes, as Democrats feared their fragmented field could propel two Republicans into November.
Gas Prices Fuel Early Sparks
Candidates wasted no time diving into California’s punishing gas costs, which averaged more than $6 per gallon statewide.[2] Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco pinned the blame squarely on Democratic policies, including high state taxes and regulations that they said stifled production and drove up expenses compared to other states.[1]
Hilton, the Trump-endorsed conservative commentator, boldly promised to slash prices to $3 a gallon by restarting drilling and easing taxes.[4] San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan shot back sharply: “You’re lying to people.”[1] Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, the lone woman onstage, later interjected amid the fray, urging, “Boys, boys, enough with the bickering.”[2] Democrats countered by pointing to President Donald Trump and the war in Iran as culprits, underscoring a familiar divide.
Tax Debates Expose Democratic Fault Lines
The discussion shifted to taxes, where intraparty tensions simmered among Democrats. Billionaire Tom Steyer backed a proposed one-time levy on billionaires set for the November ballot and signaled openness to further increases.[1] Porter dismissed it as too limited, arguing it offered “cheap political points” without meaningful reform.[3]
Mahan pressed fellow Democrats to prioritize efficiency over expansion, advocating a suspension of the state gas tax to provide immediate relief.[4] Hilton went further, pledging to exempt the first $100,000 of income from state taxes. Republicans repeatedly tied high taxes to job flight and business exodus, framing 15 years of one-party rule as the root of fiscal woes.[5] The exchanges revealed how economic pain points tested candidates’ visions for balancing revenue and relief.
Immigration Ignites Partisan Crossfire
Immigration emerged as a flashpoint, with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco decrying sanctuary policies for shielding violent criminals and forcing law enforcement into street-level work instead of detention.[3] Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa fired back, labeling Bianco a “bully” and referencing his past Oath Keepers ties, to which Bianco replied he remained “very proud” of the group’s principles.[3]
Democrats like former Attorney General Xavier Becerra emphasized handing over dangerous offenders while resisting federal overreach. The debate touched on broader enforcement debates, including calls from Steyer to dismantle ICE as a “criminal organization.”[3] These clashes highlighted ongoing battles over public safety and federal-state tensions in the nation’s most populous state.
Trump’s Shadow Hangs Heavy
President Trump dominated the rhetoric, serving as both shield and sword. Democrats invoked him relentlessly, with Becerra declaring, “Yes, I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have to because he’s the real menace that we have in California.”[1] Porter was more direct: “Donald Trump sucks.”[2]
Republicans dismissed the focus, with Hilton retorting that Trump presided over lower costs elsewhere and that state failures stemmed from Sacramento.[1] Becerra faced scrutiny over a former aide’s indictment, which Hilton suggested warranted investigation, though Becerra noted his own absence from charges. Porter addressed criticism of her past staff interactions, framing it as accountability.[1] The fixation on Trump reflected Democrats’ strategy to rally their base while Republicans urged focus on local governance.
The Seven Contenders:
- Xavier Becerra (D, former state AG)
- Katie Porter (D, former U.S. Rep.)
- Tom Steyer (D, billionaire philanthropist)
- Antonio Villaraigosa (D, former LA Mayor)
- Matt Mahan (D, San Jose Mayor)
- Steve Hilton (R, commentator)
- Chad Bianco (R, Riverside Sheriff)
High Stakes as Ballots Drop
Recent polls captured the race’s fluidity, showing Becerra and Hilton tied at 18%, Bianco at 14%, and Steyer at 12%.[3] Steyer’s massive ad spending — nearing $150 million — had yet to yield a decisive edge.[5] Democrats, who outnumber Republicans 2-to-1, confronted the risk of their divisions sending two GOP candidates to the general election, a scenario unseen in over two decades statewide.[2]
The debate offered a national spotlight at a pivotal moment, with mail voting accelerating. While no one claimed a clear breakout, the raw exchanges on pocketbook issues likely resonated amid voter fatigue with persistent crises like homelessness and housing shortages. As primary day approaches, California’s next leader remains very much in doubt, hinging on how these arguments sway undecided ballots.
