(The Center Square) – Candidates for governor of California made their pitches again Thursday night on everything from affordability to education during the final televised debate before the June 2 primary.
CBS California and the San Francisco Examiner hosted the debate in San Francisco. Those appearing on stage were Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Antonio Villaraigosa. Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton also appeared.
Candidates were given 60 seconds to answer questions, 30 seconds for follow-ups and 30 seconds to challenge candidates’ remarks. In addition to questions from moderators, CBS California sometimes aired TV news reports that involved people sharing their concerns about education and the costs of gasoline and housing.
Steyer, a billionaire philanthropist, said teachers and other Californians cannot afford to live in California anymore.
“I’m going to take on the special interest and lower costs. I’ll build homes, and I’ll get single-payer healthcare,” said Steyer. “I’ll reduce electricity costs by 25%.”
Steyer added that California is “the richest state in the richest country in the history of the world, and it is unacceptable that so many Californians are struggling” to make ends meet.
Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, said government spending is part of why people cannot afford things.
As a result, he said Californians need someone new.
“We need a proven problem solver,” said Bianco.
Porter believes that she is that problem solver. In sticking with a talking point from previous debates, Porter said she is a single mom who pays the bills, does the shopping and fills up the family vehicle with gasoline.
“Who can you trust to fight for your family, to look out for your best interest,” said Porter, a former U.S. representative whose district contained part of Orange County. “Californians, you can trust me.”
Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor and speaker of the California Assembly, said he has been critical of his fellow Democrats and Sacramento.
“We need someone with the courage to take on Donald Trump but also take on our friends when they’re wrong,” said Villaraigosa. “I’ve had a record of doing that, as mayor and speaker.”
Becerra, a former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services and California attorney general, said the state needs a fighter.
“We fought, we won,” said Becerra. “People want someone with experience.”
Hilton said Californians are struggling because of the Democrats elected to office. Hilton said voters need someone new, someone who cares about them.
“I see you. I believe in you. I’ll put more money in your pocket,” said Hilton. “Enough with the bureaucracy.”
Mahan said Steyer’s policies of higher taxes and bigger government will not help Californians. He also criticized Hilton for being a Fox News personality and said Hilton’s policies will lead to “fear, division and more Donald Trump.”
Mahan also went after Becerra.
“Let’s be honest. Becerra is not offering change,” said Mahan. “He’s the embodiment of the status quo.”
As mayor of San Jose, Mahan said he led efforts to reduce homelessness, making the city the safest big city in the nation where they are building thousands of homes for working families.
“That’s the kind of change we need,” said Mahan.
Throughout the night, most of the candidates were critical of Becerra’s position on issues such as single-payer healthcare. Becerra said he is in favor of single payer, but candidates, including his fellow democrats, were not buying.
“This is what happens when you’re leading in the polls,” said Becerra. “They come after you.”
Hilton, who has earned President Donald Trump’s endorsement, disputed that remark. Hilton said he’s leading the polls.
Becerra’s opponents also went after him at times for the federal indictment of his former chief of staff and a political consultant. Becerra said he’s done nothing wrong.
“The U.S. attorney said no candidate running for governor has been implicated in this particular matter,” said Becerra.
Hilton was not having it and at one point said Becerra should not be on the stage.
“You should be preparing your criminal defense,” said Hilton.
On the issue of education, and what he will do to improve scores while battling budget issues, Villaraigosa said it’s simple.
“Focus on literacy, math, art and science,” said Villaraigosa. “We are failing our kids.”
Porter also wants to focus on the basics. She mentioned reading and math specifically.
“Research is clear,” said Porter. “If you don’t get there, you have very limited mobility.”
Bianco pointed out that teachers are being laid off while administrators are keeping their jobs. He wants to change that and remove policies to let teachers teach.
“Invest in teachers,” said Bianco. “Reduce class sizes.”
Steyer promised to get more money to attract teachers, train them and retain them. According to Steyer, affordability is a reason why teachers have been leaving California.
Mahan, who was a teacher before his election as mayor, thinks people in the field should be consulted.
“We do not need MAGA and more of the same,” said Mahan, who’s critical of both Republicans and Democrats for what he called their failed policies.
Later in the debate, when asked whether he believes man-made climate change is real, Bianco did not appear concerned.
“We’ve been threatened since I was a little kid of being in an ice age, of California being nonexistent because the oceans were going to rise,” said Bianco. “It’s not going to happen.”
Hilton, who advised British politicians on green policies before moving to the United States, said California needs to have more common-sense measures and not costly ones that do more harm than good. For example, Hilton said forests have not been managed properly and that has led to brush that fueled wildfires.
“Instead of getting oil and gas from our own oil production here in California, we are shipping it 7,500 miles in giant supertankers spewing out carbon emissions,” said Hilton. “In the name of climate, we are increasing carbon emissions.”
The Democrats running for governor think climate change is a threat.
Near the end of the debate, all seven candidates were asked if they would agree with Louisiana’s demands to extradite a California physician accused of mailing abortion drugs to a woman in Louisiana.
Bianco and Hilton said yes, adding it is a matter of law.
Democrats said they would not extradite.
“This is about a woman’s right to choose,” said Villaraigosa.
