Full Breakdown
California’s Final Gubernatorial Debate Highlights a Tight Race and Becerra Controversy
5/16/2026, 2:50:54 AM
The Final Televised Showdown
On May 14, seven candidates for California governor faced off in a 90-minute debate at San Francisco’s Julia Morgan Ballroom. The event, co-produced by CBS News California and the San Francisco Examiner, was billed as the last televised opportunity for voters to hear directly from the field before the June 2 primary. Moderators Ryan Yamamoto, Tom Wait and Schuyler Hudak Prionas rotated questions on affordability, housing, public safety, climate, education and health care while allowing candidates to challenge one another in real time.
Context: A Crowded, Open Primary
Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, leaving the top-two primary system to determine the two candidates who will advance to the November runoff regardless of party. Early voting began May 4, and as of mid-May only about 3 % of ballots had been cast. The race has been described as the most open gubernatorial contest in decades, with polls showing a fluid lead among Democrats and Republicans.
Candidates on Stage
- Xavier Becerra (D) – former U.S. Health Secretary and former California attorney general.
- Steve Hilton (R) – former Fox News host, endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
- Chad Bianco (R) – Riverside County sheriff.
- Katie Porter (D) – former U.S. Representative.
- Matt Mahan (D) – mayor of San Jose.
- Tom Steyer (D) – billionaire philanthropist and former hedge-fund manager.
- Antonio Villaraigosa (D) – former Los Angeles mayor.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond qualified for the ballot but was not invited to the debate.
Poll Landscape Ahead of the Primary
The latest Emerson College poll (May 9-10) placed Becerra first with 19 % support, followed by Hilton (17.1 %) and Steyer (16.6 %). Bianco trailed at 10 %, Porter at 10.3 %, Mahan at 7.9 % and Villaraigosa at 4 %. Undecided voters ranged from 12 % to 14 % across surveys. Earlier April polling had shown a larger share of undecided voters (26 %).
Issues at the Forefront
- Affordability & Housing: Porter proposed a four-point plan to cut housing costs by accelerating construction; Mahan called for suspending the gas tax and eliminating one-time fees; Villaraigosa emphasized his mayoral experience as a problem-solving asset.
- Climate & Energy: Bianco and Hilton both answered “Yes” to expanding offshore drilling, arguing it would lower gas prices; the five Democratic candidates opposed any increase. Hilton framed his stance as “common sense on climate change, not ideology.”
- Education: Mahan suggested moving the Department of Education under the governor’s control; Bianco demanded a top-down overhaul; Hilton stressed basic literacy standards and teacher accountability.
- Legal Scrutiny: Becerra faced repeated attacks over a former aide’s guilty plea to a $225,000 bank-fraud scheme tied to his dormant campaign account. No charges have been filed against Becerra.
Official Statements & Summaries
- Becerra denied any involvement in the aide’s wrongdoing and cited a U.S. Attorney’s statement that no candidate is implicated. He framed the criticism as the “price of leading in the polls.”
- Hilton accused Becerra of needing to prepare a criminal defense, while emphasizing his own “common-sense” approach to climate policy.
- Porter highlighted a housing-speed strategy modeled on Colorado to achieve 10-20 % cheaper homes.
- Bianco defended offshore drilling as a means to lower fuel costs and asserted belief in climate change but questioned human causality.
- Steyer warned that tackling fossil-fuel profits is essential to make California affordable for working families.
- Mahan advocated for education reform under gubernatorial oversight and tax-policy adjustments to ease consumer costs.
Targeted Criticism of Xavier Becerra
Republican candidates repeatedly linked Becerra to the bank-fraud case, with Hilton stating Becerra should “prepare your criminal defense.” Democratic opponents, notably Porter, warned that the scandal could still affect Becerra’s eligibility despite the lack of formal charges. The debate amplified the narrative that Becerra’s legal exposure is a central vulnerability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As I have said from day 1, I was not involved in the wrongdoing I had nothing to do with that, I did nothing wrong,” — Xavier Becerra, Democratic candidate, former U.S. Health Secretary
- “You shouldn’t be in this race, you should be preparing your criminal defense.” — Steve Hilton, Republican candidate, former Fox News host
- “I have plans to lower the cost of housing by building faster, if we build the same speed here in California as we build in Colorado, for example, [we could have] 10 or 20 percent cheaper housing,” — Katie Porter, Democratic candidate, former U.S. Representative
- “Yes,” — Chad Bianco, Republican candidate, Riverside County Sheriff (on offshore drilling)
- “common sense on climate change, not ideology.” — Steve Hilton, Republican candidate, former Fox News host
- “They think I am coming for their profits, and they’re right, because that’s the only way we’re going to drive down costs and make California affordable for working people again,” — Tom Steyer, Democratic candidate, billionaire philanthropist
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Polls differ on the exact margin between Becerra, Hilton and Steyer, with some surveys placing Becerra within the margin of error of his rivals. Legal experts were not quoted, leaving a gap in independent analysis of the bank-fraud case’s relevance to Becerra’s candidacy.
What’s Next: The June 2 Primary
With early voting underway and undecided voters still comprising roughly one-quarter of the electorate, the debate’s impact will be measured in the final ballot count. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the November runoff, where the contested issues of housing, climate policy and legal accountability are expected to remain pivotal.
