Leading candidates for California governor jostle in critical debate

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six leading candidates for California governor jostled in a televised debate Wednesday as they sought advantage in a chaotic race with no clear leader.

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It’s the first time in a generation that California has a wide-open contest for the heavily Democratic state’s highest office. Mail ballots are scheduled to go to voters early next month in advance of the June 2 primary election.

The debate brought together the two leading Republicans — conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — and four Democrats: former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

Early questions about homelessness saw a clear break between candidates.

Democrats generally credited outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for dealing with the long-running crisis — California has more people living on the street than any other state. But Republicans said the state has spent billions of dollars with little evidence of progress.

“Everything has taken us in the wrong direction,” Hilton said.

There also were some sharp exchanges, and candidates sought to distinguish themselves from rivals.

Mahan said “The only housing Tom Steyer’s built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,” echoing criticism that Steyer, a hedge fund founder turned liberal activist, invested in private prisons that today house people picked up in federal immigration raids.

Under California election rules, only the top two vote-getters advance to the November election, regardless of party. Democrats have been fretting for months that a crowded field could result in two Republicans making it to November, a result that would be a historic calamity for Democrats in a famously left-leaning state.

The campaign has just come through an unstable period, with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell — one of the leading Democrats — leaving the race and Congress following sexual assault allegations that he denies. Another Democrat, former state controller Betty Yee, dropped out Monday after lagging in polls since entering the race in 2024 and then endorsed Steyer. Meanwhile, Becerra picked up the support of Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Tuesday.

Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup after Swalwell exited the race. Both candidates have been getting fresh attention — and endorsements — in the reordered contest.