The race to replace outgoing California Governor Gavin Newsom heated up dramatically on Tuesday, April 28, as eight gubernatorial candidates squared off in a fast-paced, often chaotic debate at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium in Claremont, California. Broadcast live on CBS stations statewide, the 90-minute showdown gave voters their most complete look yet at the crowded field competing for the state’s top office ahead of the June 2 primary election.
Eight Candidates, One Stage
The debate featured the two leading Republicans — former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — alongside six Democrats: former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The event was co-organized by Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) in partnership with CBS and Pomona College, with participation limited to candidates holding at least 1% support in both the Emerson College and LA Times/UC Berkeley polls.
The California Dream Front and Center
CBS LA anchor Pat Harvey opened the debate by asking candidates what they would do to restore the “California Dream” as prices soar and residents struggle with the rising cost of living. Republican Steve Hilton vowed to make the state “Califordable” by cutting utilities and making homeownership accessible to young people. Fellow Republican Chad Bianco wasted no time blaming the legislature’s progressive agenda for the state’s struggles, declaring that Democrats holding a supermajority in the statehouse would simply have to work with him if he won the governorship.
Becerra Emerges as a Central Target
Xavier Becerra entered the debate as the candidate with the most momentum and the biggest target on his back. Throughout the evening, he leaned into his record as HHS Secretary and California Attorney General while stepping away from his usual measured demeanor to deliver sharp jabs at his opponents.
One of the sharpest exchanges came over healthcare. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan accused Becerra of defending the status quo and simply blaming Trump, to which Becerra fired back that he was the only person on stage who had actually run a healthcare system — the largest in the world — and had expanded coverage beyond anything seen in the country’s history.
Tensions also flared between Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, who shot back that Democrats can’t do anything but blame Trump. The two traded blows over federal healthcare funding and the direction of California’s health policy in an exchange that drew some of the loudest reactions of the night.
Mahan Takes Aim at the Gas Tax and Healthcare
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan carved out a distinct lane by attacking California’s gas tax as regressive, arguing that rural and working-class Californians shoulder a disproportionate burden to maintain roads while wealthy electric vehicle owners pay nothing. He also boldly claimed that every other candidate on stage had healthcare wrong — a move designed to differentiate himself in a field where many Democratic candidates hold similar positions.
A Crowded, Unsettled Race
The contest in the nation’s most populous state is playing out against a backdrop of serious challenges: a long-running homeless crisis, a wildfire insurance shortage that has left millions of residents vulnerable, projected state budget shortfalls, and housing costs that continue to push working families out of the state entirely.
Polling heading into the debate showed Steve Hilton leading the field with 17 to 20 percent of voter support. Chad Bianco and Tom Steyer were effectively tied at around 14.6 percent each. Becerra averaged approximately 12 percent, followed by Katie Porter at 10.8 percent, Matt Mahan at 4.8 percent, Antonio Villaraigosa at 2.6 percent, and Tony Thurmond at 1.5 percent.
California’s open primary system means the top two vote-getters on June 2 advance to the November general election regardless of party — a dynamic that has Democrats deeply worried. With six Democrats splitting the progressive vote, there is a real possibility that one or both Republicans could claim a top-two finish and reshape the November contest entirely.
What’s Next: CNN Debate on May 5
Tuesday’s debate was not the last. Seven candidates have qualified to participate in CNN’s California gubernatorial primary debate on May 5, to be moderated by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Elex Michaelson in the Los Angeles area. With mail ballots beginning to land in voters’ mailboxes and the June 2 primary fast approaching, time is running out for any candidate still hoping to break through the noise and claim a spot in the general election.
The California governor’s race remains one of the most closely watched political contests in the country — a high-stakes battle over affordability, healthcare, housing, and what kind of future California is willing to choose.