SAN FRANCISCO – As Californians vote in one of the most volatile gubernatorial races in recent history, former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democratic incumbent, once again fired back during a debate between California’s top gubernatorial candidates.
Becerra’s rapid rise as the Democratic front-runner in the race has been greeted on stage by a barrage of political attacks from Democrats and Republicans, particularly over his former campaign manager’s guilty plea to corruption charges hours before the showdown.
Then came allegations that he failed to support single-payer health care, and failed to end health care and unemployment fraud while serving as California attorney general.
“This is what happens when you lead in the polls and outrun everyone. They all come to you,” Becerra said. “I get it. So they should try to beat you down. This is a good tactic Trump is using. I didn’t expect it to come from other Democrats.”
“With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Becerra later said.
The showdown comes at a critical time before the June 2 primary. Republican voters appear to be rallying behind Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, while Becerra and billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer are favored by Democrats.
Katie Porter, left, Chad Bianco, Antonio Villaraigosa and Xavier Becerra at Thursday’s interview.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Pool via Associated Press)
It will be taken
As ballots hit the mailboxes, California voters finally entered the race to lead the world’s most populous state and fourth-largest economy. Thursday’s 90-minute debate on CBS may be the last chance for the candidates to speak directly to a large number of voters.
So far, scandals have drawn much attention to the race, as former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), a former favorite and front-runner, dropped out in April amid allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Five Democrats – Becerra, Steyer, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – and two Republicans – Sheriff County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former analyst Steve Hilton – debated on affordability, housing, public safety, climate, education and health care. State Supt. of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, a Democrat, failed to reach polling levels to qualify for the debate.
CBS News Bay Area reporter Ryan Yamamoto, CBS News Los Angeles reporter Tom Wait and San Francisco Examiner Editor-in-Chief Schuyler Hudak Prionas judged in front of nearly 200 people at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco’s Financial District, with sweeping views of the city.
The glamourous Beaux Arts scene was contrasted with the bitter rivalry between the candidates that underscored Becerra’s rapid rise among Democrats in the field after Swalwell dropped out of the race. Even before they faced off, his Democratic rivals began focusing on Becerra.
Becerra is attacked
The candidate has faced a barrage of attacks for a slew of negative publicity this week, including a viral interview with a KTLA-TV reporter in which the Democratic candidate asked, “This is a profile piece, this is not a gotcha piece, right?”
Earlier Thursday, his former campaign manager Dana Williamson, who also spent time as Newsom’s chief of staff, pleaded guilty to corruption charges saying he and a former top Becerra adviser were among those who illegally took $225,000 from Becerra’s campaign accounts.
Although Becerra has never been accused of wrongdoing, that didn’t dampen criticism from his political rivals during Thursday’s debate. They questioned his judgment and said Becerra should have been careful where his money was going.
Hilton said Becerra should prepare for a criminal defense, rather than run for governor. Porter warned that damning evidence against Becerra could come out later — which, if he finishes as the top Democrat in the primary, could derail his campaign and lead to a Republican nomination as California’s next governor.
Becerra defended himself, stating that federal prosecutors have never accused him of involvement and that none of the gubernatorial candidates are involved in the scandal.
Democrats also painted Becerra as a leader who allowed fraud and mismanagement to grow under his watch.
He “didn’t care about the store” as the state’s attorney general, Mahan said, pointing to unemployment and hospice claims at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I mean the Biden administration should have sidelined him during COVID. This is not good leadership.”
Matt Mahan, left, is polling in the single digits and made a last-ditch effort to leave something behind during Thursday’s debate.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Pool via AP)
Too much focus on kitchen table issues, which are of most concern to voters
Affordability was a big theme in the discussion, which included an introductory video of a single mother struggling to fill her gas tank and buy groceries.
Steyer said he would cut costs by taking on specials and bringing about structural change and breaking up monopolies.
“I’m the one who’s going to tax billionaires like me, and big corporations so we can make changes” to pay for health care and greater education, he said.
Mahan said the answer was to “put more money in people’s pockets by reducing costs,” which he said would not happen under Steyer or Hilton.
“Tom Steyer’s structural change sounds like socialism to me. His plans will double the size of state government,” Mahan said. “That’s not going to create affordability. Steve Hilton is touting his endorsements for Donald Trump. He has costs and wars that drive costs up.”
Hilton also responded: “I love how Matt talks about how he’s going to cut costs when his city has just been rated as the most expensive, most affordable housing in the world.”
Daylight among Republicans on climate change
The Republican candidates avoided attacking each other during the debates, instead complimenting each other. But the two diverged when asked whether climate change is having a real-world impact.
Bianco said California is destroying itself with its environmental policies.
“Yes we can say that temperatures are rising,” he said, but he also said that he was “naive” enough to think that humans can affect or control the climate, which has been changing since childhood, and that California should stop all environmental laws “related to activists” and destroy the country’s economy.
Tom Steyer spoke on Thursday about affordability, which is a hot topic: “I’m a billionaire taxpayer like myself.”
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Pool via Associated Press)
Hilton said he believes in climate change but California needs to have “common sense” on the issue rather than ideological responses. He said “of course” it’s okay to want clean water and air but those policies in California aren’t working – as recent “big fires” in the state have made clear.
Democrats on stage were largely aligned with the need to address the climate crisis and ensure that environmental protections are not dismantled by the Trump administration.
Last attempts by struggling candidates
The candidates in the crowded field who failed to emerge — centrist Democrats Mahan and Villaraigosa, who lost by single digits in the polls — made a last-ditch effort to go off the record during Thursday’s caucus.
Mahan followed nearly every other candidate on stage during the first debate.
“The change we need is based on accountability for results,” Mahan said. “It’s not the change offered by billionaire Tom Steyer, which is higher taxes and big government. It’s not the change offered by Fox News head Steve Hilton – fear, division and Donald Trump. And let’s be honest, Xavier Becerra doesn’t offer change; he’s the embodiment of the status quo.”
Villaraigosa leaned heavily on his experience leading Los Angeles and the state Legislature to make his case for leading the state while criticizing the policies of his fellow Democrats.
“This is a state with major challenges, the challenge of not being able to buy, the challenge of health care, homelessness, and dirty streets and crime-ridden streets,” Villaraigosa said. “The truth is, I’m the only candidate in this category who, in addition to beating Donald Trump, what I’m doing, he challenged us, he challenged this group, and he said, ‘Hang on, a lot of the problems we’re facing come from the policies of Sacramento.’ We need someone who has the courage to stand up to Donald Trump, but also stand up to our friends when they are wrong. I’ve had a record of doing that.”
Mehta reported from Los Angeles and Nixon from San Francisco.
