Top takeaways from final governor’s debate: Knives out for Becerra

SAN FRANCISCO — As Californians vote in the most volatile gubernatorial race in recent history, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat rising in the polls, once again took most of the heat during a contentious debate among the top candidates for California governor.

Becerra’s rapid rise as the top Democrat in the race has been met with political attacks on stage from rival Democrats and Republicans, particularly over the former campaign manager’s guilty plea to federal corruption charges hours before the clash.

Then came accusations that he wavered in support of single-payer health care and failed to crack down on health care and unemployment fraud while serving as California’s attorney general.

“That’s what happens when you’re ahead in the polls and you’re ahead of everybody. They all come at you,” Becerra said. “I understand. That’s why they have to try to take you down. This is a great Trump tactic being used. I didn’t expect this coming from fellow Democrats.”

“Who needs enemies when you have friends like these?” Becerra later said this.

The encounter came at a critical moment before the June 2 primary elections. Republican voters appear to be rallying behind Hilton, who is backed by President Trump, while Democrats top Becerra and billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer.

Up for grabs

As ballots hit mailboxes, California voters are finally joining the race to lead the nation’s most populous state and the world’s fourth-largest economy. Thursday’s 90-minute CBS debate may be the candidates’ last opportunity to directly address large numbers of voters.

The scandal has attracted the most attention in the contest so far; Former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), once an establishment favorite and prominent figure, withdrew from the race in April amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Five Democrats — Becerra, Steyer, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — and two Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former conservative commentator Steve Hilton — clashed over affordability, housing, public safety, climate, education and health care. Democrat Tony Thurmond of the State Department of Public Instruction did not meet the voting threshold to qualify for the debate.

CBS News Bay Area correspondent Ryan Yamamoto, CBS News Los Angeles correspondent Tom Wait and San Francisco Examiner Editor-in-Chief Schuyler Hudak Prionas officiated the match in front of nearly 200 people at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco’s Financial District, offering panoramic views of the city.

The opulent Beaux-Arts venue contrasted with the tense clashes between the candidates that highlighted Becerra’s meteoric rise among Democrats after Swalwell dropped out of the race. Even before the matchup, Democratic rivals began focusing on Becerra.

Becerra is under attack

The candidate has faced a barrage of attacks this week over a barrage of negative publicity; to which the Democratic candidate replied, “This is a profile piece, this isn’t a gotcha, right?” including a widely circulated conversation with a KTLA reporter in which he asked.

Earlier Thursday, former campaign manager Dana Williamson, who also worked as Newsom’s chief of staff, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges alleging that she and Becerra’s former top adviser were among those who illegally siphoned $225,000 from Becerra’s campaign accounts.

Although Becerra has not been accused of wrongdoing, that did not dampen criticism from his political rivals during Thursday’s debate. They questioned his decision and said Becerra should have realized where his money was going.

Hilton said Becerra should prepare his own criminal defense instead of running for governor. Porter warned that evidence against Becerra could emerge later; This could cripple his campaign if he finishes as the top Democrat in the primary and lead to a Republican being elected California’s next governor.

Becerra defended himself, noting that federal prosecutors never accused him of involvement and noting that none of the gubernatorial candidates were involved in the scandal.

Democrats also painted Becerra as a leader who allowed fraud and mismanagement to thrive under his watch.

Mahan pointed to false unemployment and hospice claims early in the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he “didn’t care about the store” as state attorney general. “So the Biden administration had to sideline him during Covid. That’s not good leadership.”

Matt Mahan (left) is polling in the single digits and made the final push to make his mark during Thursday’s debate.

(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Godofredo A. Vásquez/pool Ap Via Ap)

Great emphasis on kitchen table issues, a critical concern among voters

Affordability was a central theme in the discussion, which included a promotional video of a single mother struggling to fill her gas tank and buy groceries.

Steyer said he would cut costs by taking on special interests, bringing about structural change and breaking up monopolies.

“I’m the one who’s going to tax billionaires like me and big corporations so we can make changes,” he said of health care and excellent education.

Mahan said the solution is to “get more money into people’s pockets by lowering costs,” and that won’t happen under either Steyer or Hilton.

“Tom Steyer’s structural change looks more like socialism to me. His plans would literally double the size of state government,” Mahan said. “This is not going to increase affordability. Steve Hilton brags about supporting Donald Trump. There are tariffs and wars that increase costs.”

Hilton returned fire: “I like the way Matt talks about how he’s going to cut costs when his city was recently rated the most expensive city in the world and the least affordable for housing.”

Daylight among Republicans on climate change

Republican candidates refrained from attacking each other during the debates and offered compliments. But the two split when asked whether climate change had a real-world impact.

Bianco said California is destroying itself with its environmental policies.

“Of course we can say that temperatures are rising,” he said, but he also said he was not “naïve” enough to think that people can influence or control the changing climate since childhood and that California should stop all environmental regulations that are “connected to activists” and are destroying the state’s economy.

Tom Steyer spoke Thursday about the all-important issue of affordability: “I’m the one who’s going to tax billionaires like me.”

(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Pool, via Associated Press)

Hilton said he believes in climate change, but California should have “common sense” on this issue rather than ideological reactions. He said it’s “of course” right to want clean water and air, but the policies in California aren’t working; The state’s recent “megafires” have made this clear.

Democrats on stage were closely aligned on the need to respond to the climate crisis and ensure environmental protections are not gutted by the Trump administration.

Last-ditch efforts by struggling candidates

The candidates in the crowded field, centrist Democrats Mahan and Villaraigosa who are trailing in single digits in the polls, made a last-ditch effort to make a mark during Thursday’s meeting.

In the opening moments of the debate, Mahan went after nearly every candidate on stage.

“The change we need comes from accountability for results,” Mahan said. “This is not the change that billionaire Tom Steyer is proposing, which is higher taxes and bigger government. This is not the change that Fox News spokesman Steve Hilton is proposing; this is fear, division, and more Donald Trump. And let’s be honest, Xavier Becerra is not proposing change; he is the embodiment of the status quo.”

Villaraigosa has leaned heavily on his experience running Los Angeles and in the state Legislature to argue that he is the most qualified to lead the state while criticizing the policies of his fellow Democrats.

“This is a state with great challenges; the affordability problem, the health care problem, homelessness, dirty streets and crime-ridden streets,” Villaraigosa said. he said. “The truth is, I’m the only candidate on this stage who not only takes a shot at Donald Trump, but also challenges us, challenges this party, and says, ‘Stop, most of the problems we face are due to Sacramento policies. We need someone who can take on Donald Trump, but also has the courage to take on our friends when they’re wrong. I have a track record of doing that.”

Mehta reported from Los Angeles and Nixon from San Francisco.