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A critical debate in the race to be California’s next governor was held on Wednesday night. The top six candidates faced off on a wide range of issues, including health care, housing and the economy.
The big question following the debate: Did it help any of them stand out in the chaotic race?
There are still eight contenders in the race for California governor, but only the top six candidates participated in the debate.
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There were a few fiesty run-ins but few fireworks as the field of six faced off in the first televised debate since early front-runner and former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out less than two weeks ago amid sexual assault allegations.
On the stage were four Democrats — Billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and San José Mayor Matt Mahan. There were also two Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton. President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton earlier this month.
The field quickly traded jabs over experience.
“We deserve better answers than the answers that we’ve been getting from the other candidates on this stage. We don’t need a billionaire who made his money in private prisons and oil and gas that he’s now supposedly against, or Trump’s handpicked candidate, or a D.C. insider who the Sacramento establishment is now rallying around,” Mahan said.
“I’ll make sure as governor I tackle these crises because I’ve been through these crises before and had to handle them. We need someone with experience. Someone who doesn’t need on-the-job training the moment they get into the governor’s office,” Bacerra said.
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While Gov. Gavin Newsom was in Central California on Wednesday, he was asked if he would endorse a particular candidate for California’s next governor.
During the 90-minute debate, they faced questions ranging from the housing crisis to gas and mileage tax.
“I’m the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires. I’m the billionaire who is taking on the electric monopolies and trying to break up their power,” Steyer said.
The Republicans blamed the Democrats and their spending for California’s problems, as the Democrats all largely praised the governor for his job handling homelessness.
“I’d love to be in your class, Katie, if you give a ‘B’ for what Gavin Newsom has done on homelessness, my goodness,” Hilton said. “Of course it’s an ‘F.’ It shames our state, the situation with homelessness.”
Issues of race drew some of the fierest reactions.
“Let’s stop with this whole racism thing and racial profiling and all of this garbage,” Bianco said. “We have to get over this. You either violated the law or you didn’t. End of story.”
“I’m stunned that Mr. Bianco would say to Black and Brown Californians and immigrants who are being terrorized and racially profiled that you have to ‘get over racism,'” Porter said.
The debate comes as ballots are set to hit mailboxes in less than two weeks. The primary is on June 2, and with no clear Democratic frontrunner, it’s possible the Republican candidates could claim the top two spots.
READ MORE: A messy California governor’s race raises Democratic fears of potential loss
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