Full Breakdown
California Gubernatorial Debate: Final Televised Showdown Before June Primary
5/8/2026, 2:27:23 AM
The Debate
On May 6 2026, seven candidates for governor met at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles for a one-hour televised forum hosted by NBC 4 and Telemundo 52. The event was the last joint appearance before the June 2 top-two primary.
Candidates and Polls
The lineup featured Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco; Democrats Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa. Recent Democratic Party and EVITARUS polls placed Becerra and Hilton at 18 % each, Bianco at 14 %, Steyer at 12 %, with the remaining Democrats in single-digit ranges.
Policy Stances
All candidates opposed the proposed one-time 5 % billionaire tax except Steyer, who said he would vote for it if it qualified for the ballot. Democrats defended California’s sanctuary law and pledged to prosecute unlawful ICE actions; Bianco called for its repeal, citing a repeat-DUI immigrant who killed a 14-year-old. On homelessness, Democrats emphasized housing construction, rental assistance and mental-health services, while Bianco framed the crisis as “drug and alcohol addiction.” Becerra supported a rate-freeze for homeowners’ insurance, a position rejected by Porter and other Democrats. Both parties backed extending Diablo Canyon operations and completing the high-speed rail line, though Republicans opposed the rail project.
Criticism and Counter-attacks
Becerra attracted the most attacks: Villaraigosa, Mahan and Steyer questioned his handling of 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children and a campaign-fund scandal involving a former aide. Porter and Bianco sparred over sanctuary enforcement, with Porter warning against “crazy cowboys taking the law into their own hands” and Bianco retorting that a mother who lost a child would disagree. Mahan labeled Becerra a “career politician” who “failed again and again.” Hilton and Bianco jointly blamed Democratic rule for California’s high cost of living.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on Becerra’s current stance toward single-payer health care; some cite long-standing support, while others report a recent backtrack toward a more cautious approach. The figure of 85,000 migrant children released under his HHS tenure is also contested by opponents as evidence of mismanagement.
Stakes for the Primary
California’s top-two primary means the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party. A fragmented Democratic field could theoretically allow two Republicans to proceed, though recent polling suggests this outcome is unlikely. Approximately 15 % of voters remain undecided, making the debate’s messaging pivotal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “cálmate, Antonio, cálmate.” — Xavier Becerra
- “Sir, I don’t need any lectures from you about being a mother.” — Katie Porter
- “We don’t need the leadership of a billionaire who’s now against everything he made his money in.” — Matt Mahan
- “) The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act seeks to impose a one-time tax of about 5% of billionaires' total wealth.” — Katie Porter
What’s Next
A second televised debate is set for May 7 2026, and the primary election will occur on June 2, with the top two candidates moving on to the November 3 general election.
