LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six leading candidates for California governor jostled in a televised debate Wednesday as they sought advantage in a chaotic race with no clear leader.
It’s the first time in a generation that California has a wide-open contest for the heavily Democratic state’s highest office. Mail ballots are scheduled to go to voters early next month in advance of the June 2 primary election.
The debate brought together the two leading Republicans — conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — and four Democrats: former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
Early questions about homelessness saw a clear break between candidates.
Democrats generally credited outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for dealing with the long-running crisis — California has more people living on the street than any other state. But Republicans said the state has spent billions of dollars with little evidence of progress.
