Seven California Candidates Spar Over Immigration, Taxes, Health Care in CNN Debate

Seven California gubernatorial candidates faced off in a debate hosted by CNN as the June 2 primary election approached, with Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Antonio Villaraigosa onstage. The candidates sparred over affordability and other issues including immigration, a billionaire tax and health care, with the debate airing live on CNN and carried live from Monterey Park. On immigration, Hilton said, “I’m the only immigrant on stage,” and added, “I’m a legal immigrant.” On the high-speed rail project, Villaraigosa said, “We’ve had incompetence, maybe fraud, but for sure, made mistakes,” while Hilton argued, “they spent billions of dollars. I don’t know where the money’s gone.”

“• A fiery debate: CNN’s California gubernatorial debate concluded after seven candidates onstage — five Democrats and two Republicans — sparred over major issues plaguing Californians, including housing, immigration, healthcare, and President Donald Trump’s relationship with the Golden State”

CNN

Single-payer health care dominated exchanges as candidates pressed Becerra on whether he fully backed the issue, with CNN’s Elex Michaelson asking him to clarify his position. Becerra said, “I am absolutely for Medicare for all,” and argued that as governor he would work to “build” towards the system. Katie Porter later accused him of being the “only one who won’t” clearly answer the question, “and to me, with health care on the line, that’s disqualifying”. In the same debate, Porter also said, “Californians can decide for themselves about my temperament based on what they’ve seen here tonight,” after rivals raised questions about her conduct during a prior interview and onstage exchanges.

While California’s debate played out on CNN, Indiana and Ohio held primaries that CNN tied to the broader political calendar, with Indiana featuring Trump-backed challengers against state senators who had blocked the GOP redistricting plan endorsed by President Donald Trump. CNN projected that former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would be the GOP candidate for governor in Ohio, running against Democrat Amy Acton, who was unopposed in the primary. CNN also projected that former Sen. Sherrod Brown would be the Democratic candidate for Senate, facing GOP Sen. Jon Husted. In Indiana, CNN reported that just one incumbent senator so far was projected to fend off a Trump-backed opponent, while another state senator’s race was too close to be resolved Tuesday night.

“Seven contenders will clash on a high-stakes CNN debate, while early mail ballots already arrive across California”

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