Eight gubernatorial candidates faced off Tuesday night in a vigorous, at times tense debate as pressure mounts in the race for governor with ballots set to arrive in voters’ mailboxes in one week.
CBS hosted the California Governor’s Debate at Pomona College, calling it the “most diverse debate in the election.” Eight qualifying candidates — two Republicans and six Democrats — debated hot-button issues including housing, gas prices and health care.
Each candidate received 45 seconds to answer questions from moderators and Pomona College students, though candidates frequently interrupted one another, leading to several spats.
Credit: Taylor Parise
At one point, Pomona College student Ryan Kossarian said before asking a question, “Wow, that was a bit of a mess.”
As the June 2 primary election approaches, the race remains tight, particularly among the eight Democratic candidates seeking to emerge as voters’ clear front-runner. A recent CBS poll found slight reshuffling before Tuesday’s debate, with Republican Steve Hilton still leading at 16% and Democrat Tom Steyer gaining ground at 15%.
Democrat and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra also gained support, polling third at 13%. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, once tied with Hilton, polled at 10%, while former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter stood at 9%.
Other candidates onstage were Democrats Tony Thurmond, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa.
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Throughout the debate, Democrats generally blamed the issues facing Californians on greedy corporations and President Donald Trump, while Republicans pointed to the state’s long-standing Democratic leadership as the problem.
Here are three takeaways from the night.
Porter questions Steyer’s ties to oil companies
When asked how he would advance the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, which he had previously backed and which addresses rising home insurance costs by holding fossil fuel companies liable, Steyer called out oil companies for “knowingly polluting” for 45 years.
Porter interrupted Steyer to highlight his ties to oil companies, which Farallon Capital, the hedge fund he founded, had previously invested in.
“The fossil fuel companies were causing great damage while you were investing in them?” Porter asked.
Credit: Taylor Parise
Steyer was briefly thrown by the interruption but quickly recovered, breaking down his three goals: polluters should pay, environmental justice is necessary and clean energy must be deployed.
How he would specifically advance the act was not addressed.
When given the opportunity to respond formally, Porter said she had a track record in Congress of making polluters pay by raising royalty rates and bonding requirements. She then directly addressed Steyer and asked, “how about profiteers pay?”
This was not the first time during the night that other candidates had addressed Steyer’s wealth and billionaire status. In response throughout the debate, Steyer said that while he was the only billionaire on the stage, he was not the only one in the race, indicating the wealthy donors of other candidates.
Not enough stage time
Throughout the night, Hilton and Bianco mostly aligned with one another, facing off against the Democrats. They both insisted that a California governor who could facilitate a positive relationship with the U.S. president would be a successful one.
Though throughout the night, the two Republicans differed in temperament.
Bianco, who claimed he received little stage time, frequently attacked his Democratic rivals, saying their “failed Democrat policies” led to high costs, encouraged homelessness and led to the devastating wildfires. He addressed the students of Pomona and apologized frequently, saying they were being lied to by their officials.
Credit: Taylor Parise
When the conversation turned to health care, many Democrats favored a single-payer system, which Bianco called “socialism.”
His closing statement was also a form of attack, with Hilton also in the crossfire.
“Every single person on this stage is either a career politician, a career strategist or used to money to support them that brought us to this position today,” Bianco said, calling the debate an “hour and a half that you’re never going to get back.”
“Worse than my teenagers”
When discussing health care, candidates appeared unable to contain their excitement, leading to a back-and-forth that moderators could not control.
Democrats condemned Trump’s recent cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. Becerra, in opposition to Hilton and Bianco, said California needs a governor who can stand up against the president. He then took a jab at Hilton, calling Trump his “daddy.”
In response, Hilton laughed off the remark and blamed the lack of competition in the health care system for the high costs. As governor, Hilton said he would change Democratic policies that prevent competitive health care markets.
Credit: Taylor Parise
Other Democrats advocated for single-payer health care, which Bianco fervently disagreed with, arguing with multiple candidates on stage.
In the midst of a back-and-forth scuffle, Porter raised both hands in the air, calling the argument “worse than her teenagers” before putting her head on the podium.
Despite a heated debate with rivals, Hilton said his alternate views and relation to Trump are assets for the governor of a long-time blue state.
“In California, where we’ve had 16 years of one party, when I’m elected governor, they’ll be a bit of balancing the system — but we’re still going to have to work together,” Hilton said to Los Angeles.
Porter, who said she would take on Trump when necessary, said a spirited debate such as Tuesday’s is indicative of the passion each candidate has for California. While she commended her competitors for their devotion, she said it may have been at the expense of voters.
“I love my kids. I love them even when they argue. I love being on this debate stage,” Porter said to Los Angeles following the debate. “But I think the loser was actually California voters who may have had a hard time getting their questions answered.”