Wednesday night's California gubernatorial debate turned into a shouting match as the crowded field of candidates struggled to break through ahead of the June primary. The hour-long event, hosted by NBCLA and Telemundo 52, was marked by constant crosstalk, personal jabs, and disputes with moderators over time limits, overshadowing policy discussions on affordability, housing, and insurance.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was a primary target for his rivals, reflecting his rising momentum after Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race last month. Becerra is now jockeying for the Democratic lead alongside billionaire Tom Steyer, who also faced sharp criticism from the six other debaters.
On the Republican side, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton has surged to the top of several recent polls, despite California's strong Democratic lean. A CBS News/YouGov poll from late last month showed Hilton at 16 percent and Steyer at 15 percent, with Becerra and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco also in double digits. A California Democratic Party survey this week found Becerra and Hilton tied at 18 percent, followed by Bianco at 14 percent and Steyer at 12 percent.
The debate devolved into personal exchanges early on. At one point, Becerra responded to attacks from former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by telling him in Spanish, “cálmate, Antonio, cálmate.” Later, during a discussion on sanctuary laws, Katie Porter called for enforcing existing laws to prevent “crazy cowboys” from taking matters into their own hands. Bianco shot back, “Tell that to a crazy mother who lost her child,” prompting Porter to retort, “Sir, I don’t need any lectures from you about being a mother.” Bianco’s reply—“You might”—drew boos from the audience.
Moderators struggled to maintain order. As candidates talked over each other, NBC4 News anchor Colleen Williams appeared to say “time is your enemy here” before allowing more time. In a final round of yes-or-no questions, Williams asked candidates to rank on a 10-point scale how they’d prioritize revitalizing the film and TV industry. Villaraigosa answered “number one,” but Porter questioned whether that was really his top priority. Hilton called it “a weird question,” and moderators moved on. The broadcast ended with exit music playing as candidates were still answering the final question.
The stakes are high for a Democrat to consolidate support, especially with California’s nonpartisan primary system, where the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party. That has raised fears that two Republicans could make the general election if Democratic votes are too split, though polling models suggest that scenario is increasingly unlikely. The state party has urged single-digit candidates to drop out, as both Bianco and Hilton continue to poll well.
Swalwell’s exit and the departure of former state controller Betty Yee have thinned the field, but their names will still appear on ballots already mailed to voters. The last scheduled debate before the June 2 primary did little to clarify who will emerge as the frontrunner, leaving the race wide open.
For more on competitive primaries, see our coverage of Stabenow's endorsement in the Michigan Senate primary and Trump's Indiana primary wins.
