Context:

In a crowded California governor race, a televised debate highlighted sharp partisan divides over homelessness, taxes, and social media, amid a wide-open field with more than 50 ballot names and no clear frontrunner. The event brought together top Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco and four Democrats including Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan, and Xavier Becerra, with voters set to receive mail ballots ahead of the June 2 primary. Moderated exchanges touched on housing, wildfire insurance, and how to regulate tech while candidates sparred over wealth, experience, and the state’s direction under Democratic leadership. Democrats sought to counter Trump-aligned narratives while Republicans blamed Sacramento for California’s woes, arguing that money spent has yielded limited progress. The race remains unsettled as endorsements and attention shift after a recent field shakeup and notable introductions to the debate lineup.

Dive Deeper:

• The debate assembled the leading Republican pair, Hilton and Bianco, and four Democrats, underscoring the state’s unique all-party primary system where the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party.

• Questions covered homelessness, wildfire insurance, social media restrictions for minors, gas taxes, and pros/cons of professional experience, with the candidates presenting broadly contrasting approaches within their parties.

• Steyer and Becerra supported a ban on social media for under-16s, while Hilton favored a parent-driven or school-based approach, and Porter suggested a more nuanced age ban while acknowledging her teens’ different social-media uses.

• Critiques of Steyer focused on his wealth and past investments in private prisons, countered by Mahan accusing Steyer of profiting from controversial ventures, to which Steyer argued he finances affordable housing and would tax billionaires and polluters.

• Democrats emphasized ongoing state efforts to tackle homelessness and branded Republicans as responsible for rising costs, while Republicans blamed Democratic policies for California’s high cost of living and stagnation.

• The race follows a recent upheaval in the field after Rep. Eric Swalwell exited, with Becerra and Mahan joining the lineup and new endorsements drawing attention as the primary nears.

• With California widely considered Democratic-leaning, the outcome remains uncertain as momentum could shift if two Republicans advance, a scenario viewed as jeopardizing the party’s control.