California Candidates Clash on Taxes, Homelessness in Volatile Debate

Six candidates vying to replace Gavin Newsom as California governor clashed Wednesday night in the first major debate of a volatile campaign that has left nearly a quarter of voters undecided just days before mail ballots drop. The 90-minute showdown in San Francisco laid bare the stark choice facing the heavily Democratic state: whether to build on years of progressive governance or hand power to Republicans who spent the evening blaming Democrats for every crisis from homelessness to skyrocketing housing costs.

With no clear frontrunner and the state's nonpartisan primary system sending only the top two vote-getters to November regardless of party, Democrats have grown increasingly anxious that a fractured field could produce an all-Republican general election ballot. That nightmare scenario loomed over the proceedings hosted by Nexstar Media Group, which aired across California and nationally on NewsNation.

The stage featured four Democrats, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, former congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former state attorney general Xavier Becerra, alongside two Republicans: Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host who has surged in polls with Donald Trump's endorsement, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Questions on homelessness produced the clearest divide of the night. Democratic candidates largely defended Newsom's record, noting that California has spent billions attempting to address a crisis that has left more people on the streets here than in any other state. They argued the problem requires sustained investment and compassion rather than the simplistic attacks coming from the right. Republicans, by contrast, painted a picture of total failure after 16 years of Democratic control in Sacramento.

"Everything has taken us in the wrong direction," Hilton declared, repeating his campaign line that the system itself is broken. Bianco joined in hammering what he called decades of mismanagement that have left Californians struggling.

The debate, coming just weeks after Eric Swalwell's campaign imploded amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, highlighted how quickly the contest has shifted. Swalwell had been a frontrunner before the scandal forced his exit, clearing space for Becerra to rise in recent polling. Yet even with that shakeup, the race remains remarkably fluid.

Personal attacks flew as candidates tried to distinguish themselves in a crowded field. Mahan landed one of the evening's sharpest blows against Steyer, who has poured more than $100 million of his own fortune into his bid. "The only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers," Mahan said, reviving criticism of Steyer's hedge fund past and investments that profited from federal immigration enforcement. The remark underscored tensions among Democrats, many of whom view Steyer's wealth with skepticism even as he positions himself as a progressive champion.

Becerra took aim at Hilton, reminding viewers of the Republican's history as a conservative commentator. "It's interesting to watch someone who has served as a talking head on a Fox News program telling us how government should run when he never has run any government in his life," Becerra said. He argued that Hilton's promises of tax cuts would devastate state services and that the math simply does not add up.

Hilton brushed off the criticism, leaning into his outsider status and Trump's endorsement to portray himself as the candidate best positioned to challenge the status quo. He and Bianco repeatedly tried to tie every problem, from gas prices to insurance premiums to the cost of living, back to what they described as Democratic incompetence. Yet their solutions remained vague, focusing more on attacking Newsom's record than offering detailed alternatives.

Democrats, while unified on broad policy goals, spent portions of the debate jostling with one another over who could best deliver results on affordability and stand up to Trump. Porter, who has built a national profile on consumer protection issues, sought to position herself as the fighter for working families. Steyer emphasized his climate activism and willingness to spend big on solutions. Mahan projected a more moderate, results-oriented image drawn from his experience running California's third-largest city.

The conversation also touched on emerging challenges like artificial intelligence, though moderators kept the focus primarily on pocketbook issues that poll as top concerns for Californians. Candidates sparred over the state's high gasoline tax, approaches to bringing down housing costs, and whether to adjust insurance regulations amid rising premiums driven by climate risks.

For all the fireworks, the debate produced no obvious breakout moment that seemed likely to consolidate support behind any single candidate. Polling has shown Steyer and Porter competing near the top of the Democratic pack while Hilton has led overall surveys in recent weeks. Becerra's recent momentum suggests he could be a factor, but the field remains dangerously fragmented with ballots scheduled to begin arriving in voters' mailboxes early next month ahead of the June 2 primary.

California's unique primary system, which rewards broad appeal over partisan loyalty, has created this unpredictable environment. Democratic strategists have warned for months that without a clear leader, the party risks allowing two Republicans to advance. Such an outcome would represent a shocking setback in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Wednesday's debate offered voters their clearest look yet at the choices before them. Democrats presented themselves as the only ones with both the experience and values to tackle California's most intractable problems, from building millions of new homes to protecting vulnerable residents from the effects of extreme inequality. Republicans cast themselves as disruptors ready to end what they see as a cycle of failure and waste.

Yet with so many candidates splitting the vote and a large undecided bloc still weighing its options, the debate seemed unlikely to resolve the fundamental uncertainty hanging over this race. As Californians begin receiving their ballots, the question remains whether the state's progressive legacy will endure or whether frustration with persistent crises will open the door to a dramatic shift in leadership. The coming weeks will determine whether this chaotic primary produces the breakthrough moment any of these candidates desperately needs.