On Tuesday night, a lively and contentious debate unfolded among seven candidates aspiring to become the next governor of California. Broadcast live from East Los Angeles College, the debate came at a pivotal moment as early voting for the June 2 primary election commenced. The field remains vast, with no candidate emerging as a distinct frontrunner in a race to succeed incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is ineligible for re-election due to term limits.
### Candidates and Party Dynamics
The two Republican candidates present were Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County. While both targeted Democrats during the debate, they refrained from criticizing each other. The Democratic lineup included high-profile candidates such as Xavier Becerra, the former attorney general and current cabinet secretary under President Biden, and Tom Steyer, a former hedge fund manager. Other Democratic contenders included Katie Porter, a former congresswoman; Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose; and Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles.
California employs a nonpartisan primary system, allowing candidates from all parties to appear on a single ballot. The top two candidates by vote count in this initial phase advance to the general election in November.
### Candidates Target Becerra
Xavier Becerra, who has seen a rise in polling since the withdrawal of fellow candidate Eric Swalwell, found himself the focus of attacks from both Democrats and Republicans during the debate. Critics including Hilton and Villaraigosa harped on Becerra’s association with a criminal case involving two former aides. They charged that he was “mired personally in a corruption scandal” linked to a federal indictment against his former chief of staff, who admitted to skimming $225,000 from Becerra’s campaign accounts.
In his defense, Becerra asserted that he had no knowledge of the alleged misconduct and emphasized that he had not been accused of any crimes. He stated, “If I had been involved, the U.S. attorney would have had me in that indictment. I was not involved.” Further criticisms directed at Becerra came from Mahan, who scrutinized his tenure as health and human services secretary during the pandemic, and Steyer, who alleged that Becerra had ties to the oil industry. Becerra countered by highlighting Steyer’s past investments in fossil fuels.
### Responses on Progressive Taxation
Interestingly, despite the progressive nature of many candidates, several expressed reservations about a proposed billionaire tax initiative that could appear on the November ballot. Porter stated that the tax was “simply not good tax policy” because it would only tax billionaires once, ignoring ongoing state revenue needs. Steyer acknowledged he might support the tax if it appears on the ballot but pointed out that it lacks provisions for education funding.
Villaraigosa joined the conversation by cautioning that California’s fiscal structure relies too heavily on taxes from the wealthy, leading to a cyclical pattern of “feast and famine.”
### Porter Positions Herself
Among the candidates, Porter attempted to distinguish herself as the only female participant in a predominantly male field. She took the opportunity to address criticisms surrounding her past, where viral videos from her earlier campaign appeared to show her in unflattering situations. In response to the heated exchanges around her, she asserted, “Californians can decide for themselves about my temperament based on what they’ve seen here tonight,” emphasizing her decorum compared to the bickering of her male rivals.
### Personal Attacks Escalate
As candidates vied for the spotlight, personal attacks intensified. Villaraigosa labeled Bianco a “bully” and referred to his past as a member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group. Bianco defended himself by asserting pride in his oaths and encouraging viewers to explore the group’s mission statement. Villaraigosa also questioned Hilton’s credibility, asking how he could deny the outcome of the 2020 presidential election while criticizing Democrats.
In another pointed exchange, Becerra lashed out at Steyer over his wealth management, insinuating that his financial resources were held overseas and not being subject to taxation.
### Health Care Debate
The candidates’ discussions included a significant focus on health care, particularly single-payer systems. When moderator Elex Michaelson questioned Becerra about a shift in his stance on universal health care, Becerra refrained from providing a straightforward answer. He highlighted his support for a broader “Medicare for all” concept but faced scrutiny from Porter, who emphasized that simply increasing insurance access under existing plans was not equivalent to a single-payer system.
This dialogue echoed previous debates, particularly from the 2018 gubernatorial race, where similar issues had arisen. Both Mahan and Villaraigosa asserted that the discussions about single-payer health care were moot due to California’s financial constraints.
As the gubernatorial race heads toward the primary election, the debate highlighted the growing divisions among candidates, their differing views on key issues, and the strategies they use to position themselves in a crowded field. With California’s political landscape always evolving, the coming weeks will prove crucial for securing a place on the ballot for the upcoming general election.
Source: Original Reporting
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