Californians watch a wide-open race in a heated governor debate

In the first gubernatorial debate since Eric Swalwell’s campaign collapsed, six candidates — two Republicans and four Democrats — sparred over California’s urgent issues as the field remains wide open ahead of the June primary. The discussion centered on housing costs, homelessness, affordability, and the future of AI; Democrats largely backed Governor Newsom’s approach while Republicans blamed 16 years of Democratic governance. Notable moments included Steve Hilton embracing Trump’s endorsement, Katie Porter challenging Newsom’s homelessness record, and Matt Mahan touting Silicon Valley tech insight. The jungle primary format keeps the race unpredictable and raises the specter of two Republicans advancing to November in a state that leans Democratic.