California governor candidates clash on taxes, Trump and healthcare in lively debate

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s leading gubernatorial candidates faced off Tuesday in a heated debate over everything from the proposed billionaire tax to state-funded health care for illegal immigrants in the country.

The debate, broadcast on CNN, was one of their last chances to introduce themselves to voters and stand out from the pack in their primary election attempts to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who stepped down in January. Postal voting is already underway and voters have until June 2 to vote. The top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

Even though California hasn’t had a Republican governor in more than a decade, the specter looms over the race as the field remains crowded with less than a month to go.

Among the candidates who took part in the debate were Democrats Xavier Becerra, former health secretary in the Biden administration; Katie Porter, a former congresswoman; Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; and Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles; as well as Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator; and Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County.

Here’s how they answered some of the key questions:

Universal health care

Candidates argued over whether they would eliminate private health insurance in favor of a state-run system, an idea that has repeatedly failed in Sacramento.

Porter, who supports a government-run health care system, pressed Becerra’s position because he has recently wavered on the issue.

“Do you support CalCare – California having its own state-run, single-payer system, yes or no? » Porter asked.

Becerra gave a vague answer.

“The most important thing about a Medicare for All plan is that it includes everyone,” he said. “What we need to do is get to the point where we cover everyone with something like Medicare for All. »

Mahan, who opposes a state-run system, then intervened and said Becerra was “unable to clearly answer the most important question about health care.”

Becerra disputed: “I answered that question. »

Steyer joined Porter in saying he would support it, while Bianco, Hilton and Villaraigosa said it was impractical or would cost too much.

When the debate turned to access to healthcare for immigrants, the candidates were divided.

Steyer, Porter and Becerra said they support state-funded health coverage for low-income immigrants without legal status, which Newsom passed and then scaled back. Bianco called the policy “ridiculous.”

Immigration

Other arguments about immigration fall largely along partisan lines.

Democrats have strongly criticized the immigration operations carried out by the Trump administration.

Steyer said the state should prosecute federal agents and immigration enforcement officials who racially profile or use violence against Californians. Mahan said San Jose business owners have lost customers because many immigrants are afraid to leave their homes.

But Bianco said he supported the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying agents were enforcing the law and working to illegally deport people he called “criminals” into the country.

Hilton, originally from England, pointed out that he was the only immigrant on stage. Candidates should not confuse legal and illegal immigration, he said.

“While it is the responsibility of the federal government to determine and implement immigration policy, I believe it is important that all laws be enforced peacefully,” Hilton said. “As governor, I would ensure that we work with the federal government to enforce our laws.”

President Donald Trump

Democrats each emphasized that they would fight Trump specifically on immigration policy.

Neither Hilton, whom Trump supported, nor Bianco have invoked it much, except to say that Democrats unfairly blame him for the state’s woes.

Becerra mentioned Trump the most, noting that he sued the administration multiple times while serving as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021, when he was named health secretary under then-President Joe Biden.

“I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have because he is the threat,” Becerra said.

When Villaraigosa pressed Hilton to acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Hilton refused to respond.

“The endless talk about Donald Trump does not address the needs of struggling families and small businesses,” Hilton said.

Mahan sought common ground. He said Becerra was wrong to blame high gas prices solely on Trump, but also noted that San Jose had sued the Trump administration over its immigration policies. He said it was disqualifying for Republican candidates to support Trump’s “cruel and ineffective policies.”

Porter, meanwhile, put it simply: “Donald Trump sucks.”

Gas Tax and Billionaires Tax Proposal

Steyer was the only candidate on stage to say he would vote for a proposed billionaires tax that is expected to go before voters in November. The one-time tax proposal aims to offset funding cuts signed by Trump that reduced access to health care for low-income people.

Porter also favors raising taxes on California’s ultra-wealthy, but called the proposed tax a temporary solution to a long-term problem.

Meanwhile, Mahan said he would suspend the gas tax because it unfairly burdens working families.

Hilton would earn people’s first $100,000 without income tax.

Mahan and Steyer said they would tax artificial intelligence companies and use the money to support workers, such as through workforce development training.

“The answer is to tax these companies, not regulate them to the point where they simply locate elsewhere,” Mahan said.