Candidates vying to be the Golden State’s next leader made a pit stop in Fresno to speak directly to valley voters.

At Fresno City College on Wednesday, five democrats, Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa, took to the stage to speak on topics ranging from healthcare to housing to the economy.

“People can’t afford the state. This is the toughest state to pay rent to buy a home, pay for gas. People can’t afford the state,” says Antonio Villaraigosa.

Following the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown, the Central Valley saw major job losses. Each candidate asked how they plan to protect immigrant communities.

“I already wrote a bill, and it’s been signed into law. ICE has no place in any of our schools anywhere in the State of California,” says Tony Thurmond.

“We will police the ice police, we will investigate the ice police, we will prosecute the ice police,” says Xavier Becerra.

The Trump administration is still standing behind its immigration enforcement tactics.

Congress remains at an impasse over DHS funding.

Just Wednesday, President Trump said he is focused on replenishing federal money for Border Patrol and ICE Agents.

Several of the candidates also promised to protect the healthcare of undocumented Californians.

Another hot topic, the high-speed rail. Its construction is seen throughout Fresno’s Downtown.

All of the democratic candidates vowed to continue what’s been dubbed the ‘forever project’.

“But the only way to have what we’ve envisioned and do it in big scale to do big things in California again is if we all demand better policies from our state,” says Matt Mahan.

AI and education for young Californians are at the forefront of voters’ minds.

“We absolutely need to pair the two free years of community college with two tuition-free years at our Cal States, UCs, and Cal Poly’s tuition-free college degree,” says Katie Porter.

Action News spoke to voters after the forum, who say this forum made them excited to get to the polls.

“I feel like my vote counts, and I’m a part of the process we’re going to build a better California. We’re energized and we know that we count, we count here in the Central Valley,” says Trin Gibney, Valley Voter.

This governor’s candidate forum was hosted by UC Merced’s Community and Labor Center, they did reach out to republican candidates as well, Bianco did not respond and Hilton declined.

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