SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The leading candidates for California governor clashed in a lively debate Tuesday on everything from a proposed tax on billionaires to state-funded healthcare for immigrants in the country illegally.
The debate, broadcast on CNN, was one of their last chances to pitch themselves to voters and stand out from the pack in their primary election bids to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out in January. Mail voting is already underway, and voters have until June 2 to cast their ballots. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party.
Though California hasn’t had a Republican governor in more than a decade, the specter hangs over the race as the field is still crowded with less than a month to go.
Candidates who took part in the debate include Democrats Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary for the Biden administration; Katie Porter, a former congresswoman; Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist; Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose; and Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles; as well as Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator; and Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff.
Here’s how they responded on some of the key issues:
Universal healthcare
The candidates sparred over whether they’d eliminate private health insurance in favor of a state-run system, an idea that has failed repeatedly in Sacramento.
Porter, who backs a government-run healthcare system, pressed Becerra on his stance since he’s wavered on the issue recently.
“Do you support CalCare – California having its own state-run, single-payer system, yes or no?” Porter asked.
Becerra gave a vague answer.
“The most important thing about having a Medicare for All plan is that it includes everyone,” he said. “What we have to do is get to the point where we are covering everyone with something like Medicare for All.”
Mahan, who opposes a state-run system, later chimed in and said Becerra “was unable to clearly answer the most important question on healthcare.”
Becerra contested: “I did answer that question.”
Steyer joined Porter in saying he’d support it, while Bianco, Hilton, and Villaraigosa said it wasn’t practical or would cost too much.
When the debate turned to healthcare access for immigrants, the candidates were divided.
Steyer, Porter and Becerra said they supported state-funded healthcare coverage for low-income immigrants without legal status, which Newsom passed then pared back. Bianco called the policy “ridiculous.”
Immigration
Other arguments about immigration fell largely along party lines.
The Democrats sharply rebuked the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
Steyer said the state should prosecute federal agents and immigration enforcement leaders who racially profile or use violence against Californians. Mahan said business owners in San Jose have lost customers because many immigrants are afraid to leave their house.
But Bianco said he supported Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, saying agents were enforcing the law and working to deport people he referred to as “criminals” in the country illegally.
Hilton, who’s from England, pointed out that he was the only immigrant on stage. The candidates shouldn’t conflate legal and illegal immigration, he said.
“Although it is the federal government’s responsibility to determine and implement immigration policy, I think it’s important that all the laws are peacefully enforced,” Hilton said. “As governor, I would make sure that we work with the federal government to enforce our laws.”
President Donald Trump
The Democrats each emphasized they would fight Trump on immigration policy in particular.
Neither Hilton, whom Trump has endorsed, nor Bianco, invoked him much except to say that Democrats unfairly blame him for the state’s woes.
Becerra mentioned Trump the most, noting he sued the administration many times while serving as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021, when he was appointed health secretary under then-President Joe Biden.
“I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have because he’s the menace,” Becerra declared.
When Villaraigosa pressed Hilton to acknowledge Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Hilton refused to answer.
“Endlessly going on about Donald Trump doesn’t serve the needs of the struggling families and small businesses,” Hilton said.
Mahan sought to find middle ground. He said Becerra was wrong to blame high gas prices solely on Trump, but also noted that San Jose has sued the Trump administration over immigration policy. He said it was disqualifying for the Republican candidates to support Trump’s “cruel and ineffective policies.”
Porter, meanwhile, put it simply: “Donald Trump sucks.”
Gas tax and proposed billionaires tax
Steyer was the only candidate on stage to say he’d vote for a proposed billionaires tax expected to appear before voters in November. The one-time tax proposal aims to backfill funding cuts signed into law by Trump that reduced healthcare access for low-income people.
Porter also supports some increased taxes on California’s ultrawealthy but called the proposed tax a temporary fix to a long-term problem.
Meanwhile Mahan said he would suspend the gas tax because it unfairly burdens working families.
Hilton would make people’s first $100,000 free of income tax.
Mahan and Steyer said they’d tax artificial intelligence companies and use the money to support workers, for example through workforce development training.
“The answer is to tax these companies, not to regulate them to the point that they simply go to other places,” Mahan said.
