California Gubernatorial Candidates Participate in First Debate Ahead of June Primary

By Lauren Gambino

*Published: 2026-04-23*

Six candidates competing to become California's next governor took part in a debate on April 22, 2026, the first since former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign following sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

No candidate has established a clear lead in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Democratic-leaning state, with about 25% of voters undecided ahead of the June 2 primary, according to recent surveys.

The debate addressed key state issues including high living costs, housing affordability, homelessness and artificial intelligence risks, but occurred less than two weeks before ballots are mailed to voters.

The event, hosted by Nexstar Media Group in San Francisco, included two Republicans—Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and onetime strategy director for former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco—and four Democrats: billionaire Tom Steyer, former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

The Democratic candidates expressed broad agreement on policy positions while debating approaches to reducing costs and opposing former President Donald Trump. The Republicans attributed the state's challenges to 16 years of Democratic leadership.

"The system is not working," said Hilton, who has topped some recent polls and received an endorsement from Trump.

On Newsom's management of California's ongoing homelessness issue, most Democrats on stage offered favorable assessments. Porter assigned a "B" grade, citing Newsom's emphasis on housing as a contributing factor. Hilton responded, "Wow. I’d love to take your class, Katie, if you get a B for what Gavin Newsom’s done on homelessness." He rated Newsom an "F."


The debate produced few defining exchanges but allowed candidates to reach voters newly engaging with the contest.

"We need someone who knows how to govern in a crisis, not someone who’s going to need training wheels the moment they walk into the governor’s office," Becerra said, highlighting his tenure as California attorney general when he opposed Trump.

Becerra and Mahan qualified for the debate after recent polling gains following Swalwell's campaign withdrawal. Steyer, who has used personal funds for extensive advertising, has positioned himself as a progressive, describing himself as "the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires."

Porter, a former aide to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), emphasized her personal understanding of Californians' economic pressures. "I’m not like them," she said. "I’m like you – a mom fighting for a better future for California."

In efforts to differentiate, several Democrats criticized Steyer, who has led in some Democratic polls. Mahan stated that "the only housing Tom Steyer’s built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers," referencing Steyer's prior business investments. Steyer has expressed regret over his former hedge fund's investments in those facilities. During the debate, Steyer noted he was the only billionaire candidate but said other billionaires, including Silicon Valley executives supporting Mahan, were funding opposition to him.

The hour-long debate covered major campaign topics. Porter addressed a video-recorded interaction with a staffer, calling it "not the right way to treat someone." She added, "I work hard with my team to deliver for Californians."

Mahan defended his connections to the tech industry, stating that as mayor of San Jose—Silicon Valley's largest city—he offers insight into artificial intelligence's benefits and risks for regulation. He pledged to challenge party leaders in Sacramento.

Becerra faced questions about his time as Democratic caucus chair and whether he addressed reports of Swalwell's conduct. "Rumors are not facts," Becerra replied. He praised women who shared their accounts and said, "Today Eric Swalwell was facing accountability." Swalwell, who resigned from Congress the previous week, has denied the allegations.


Bianco addressed his recent action to take possession of more than 500,000 ballots from a November special election from county officials. He described it as a "very, very basic, normal investigation." After the California Supreme Court halted the review, Bianco said, "We’re never going to know if our elections are secure."

Hilton described Trump's endorsement as an asset, despite polls showing about two-thirds of Californians disapprove of the former president. "It will benefit every Californian to have a governor who is a partner on these issues with the president and his team," Hilton said.

California's next governor will face voters concerned about costs and economic prospects, per the Public Policy Institute of California. "We have the highest cost of living in the country because we have had one-party Democrat, progressive rule for decades that is destroying the state," Bianco said. Republicans face challenges in the state, where registered Democrats outnumber them 2-to-1.

Swalwell's exit has heightened Democratic concerns that a divided field could send two Republicans to the November general election under California's top-two "jungle primary" system, where the top two finishers advance regardless of party.

Bianco, asked if he would back Hilton in a general election against a Democrat, said no, predicting both Republicans would advance. Other candidates said they would support their party's nominee.

State Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has called on lower-polling Democrats to withdraw, though their names will remain on June ballots, as will Swalwell's. On April 20, former State Controller Betty Yee ended her campaign and endorsed Steyer.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, both Democrats, did not qualify for the debate.

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