California's crowded gubernatorial race descended into personal attacks and bitter exchanges Wednesday night as seven candidates took shots at one another over immigration, homelessness, and governance during a second consecutive tense debate.
The field remains wide open with no clear frontrunner and polling showing the top contenders clustered within the margin of error. With the June 2 all-party primary just weeks away and early ballots already in voters' hands, candidates saw the debate as a last major opportunity to break through the noise and gain traction.
Democrats Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, and Antonio Villaraigosa faced off against Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, along with Democrat San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Despite moderators urging civility at the outset to avoid a "food fight" after Tuesday's heated exchange, the restraint lasted only moments.
Mahan opened with broadsides against both parties, targeting the Republicans as "MAGA candidates" pushing divisive leadership while calling Steyer, a billionaire activist, hypocritical for opposing the industries that made his fortune.
The night's most combustible moment erupted when Porter and Bianco clashed over sanctuary policy. When the Riverside County sheriff interrupted her response, Porter fired back: "Sir, I don't need any lectures from you about being a mother." Bianco's curt reply, "You might," sparked a sharp retort from Porter about his pattern of talking over her without allowing responses. The exchange carried added weight given recent scrutiny of Porter's temperament following viral videos last year showing her raising her voice at staff and engaging in a tense television interview.
Becerra and Villaraigosa tangled over homelessness when the former Los Angeles mayor interrupted the Biden-era health secretary's remarks. "Cálmate," Becerra said curtly. Both then joined forces with Mahan to attack Becerra's immigration record, with Mahan claiming a "direct line" between Becerra's failed leadership and Trump's rise. Becerra dismissed their criticism as "Trump lies."
Hilton and Becerra, both gaining ground in recent polls, exchanged pointed barbs about governance and credibility. Hilton jabbed at Democrats for presiding over California's problems during 16 years of one-party control, directly criticizing Becerra's 36-year career as a Democratic politician. Becerra countered by questioning what a "Fox News talking head" knows about managing a budget the size of California's.
No additional debates are scheduled before the primary, meaning Wednesday's event represents the last major televised clash. The top two vote-getters will advance to November's general election.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Debates in wide-open races often devolve into chaos, and this one delivered exactly that, but voters still don't know who's actually winning."
Comments