All articles tagged with #california governor race
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra faced a barrage of attacks at a contentious 90-minute California governor debate, amid his former campaign manager’s federal guilty plea, while Republicans coalesced behind Steve Hilton and Democrats remained divided between Becerra and Tom Steyer as they debated affordability, housing, climate and healthcare ahead of the June 2 primary.
Xavier Becerra’s rise as California’s Democratic front-runner has intensified focus on his communication weaknesses, muddled policy responses, and a corruption case involving aides; while he remains ahead in polls, rivals’ attacks and a surge of negative advertising test his steadiness and messaging ahead of the June primary, potentially shaping a tougher general-election fight against a GOP candidate.
A 90-minute California governor’s debate will be staged in San Francisco in a CBS News California–San Francisco Examiner event at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. Seven candidates (Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa) will be moderated by Ryan Yamamoto, Tom Wait and Schuyler Hudak Prionas, with a format that lets candidates question each other and covers real-world voter challenges. It will air at 5:30 p.m. PT on CBS-owned stations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Sacramento (pre-show at 5:00 p.m.), with post-debate analysis through 7:30 p.m. It also streams on CBS platforms, YouTube, and CBS apps (Paramount+, Roku, Pluto TV) and on KION for Monterey Bay.
Sean McCluskie, a longtime adviser to Xavier Becerra, pleaded guilty to stealing about $225,000 from one of Becerra’s dormant campaign accounts; prosecutors say the scheme involved other consultants and an FBI sting, while Becerra has not been charged. With his gubernatorial bid under scrutiny, rivals argue the case could jeopardize his campaign and potentially help Republican contenders.
Real estate developer and former California gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck was arrested in Los Angeles County on suspicion of trying to dissuade a witness from testifying, with bail set at $300,000 and later posted; he was released the same day. Cloobeck had dropped out of the governor race in November and endorsed Eric Swalwell.
CNN’s California gubernatorial debate yielded no fireworks, but analysts saw Xavier Becerra steadying as the front-runner, Antonio Villaraigosa delivering a comeback performance, Steve Hilton consolidating Republican support, and Chad Bianco taking the biggest hit for conspiracy-tinged rhetoric; Katie Porter showed strength on issues like single-payer but faced questions about temperament, while Tom Steyer offered energetic, reform‑minded contrast; with mail ballots already arriving, the race remains unsettled a month before the June 2 primary.
Eric Swalwell’s social-media savvy backfired as a network of influencers amplified sexual misconduct allegations, triggering major media investigations, ending his California gubernatorial bid, and leaving ongoing investigations in New York and Los Angeles counties; Swalwell denies the accusations.
Xavier Becerra is gaining momentum in California’s governor’s race, leveraging decades of public service, his Latino heritage, and a new fundraising push and endorsements after Swalwell’s exit, while facing scrutiny over his HHS tenure and a recent debate attack.
After Eric Swalwell’s scandal, Xavier Becerra is seen as the Democrats’ safe, reliable choice for California’s governor, leveraging a long resume and calm demeanor to gain ground in polls, while rivals like Katie Porter and Tom Steyer stay competitive; critics say he needs more policy specifics amid a polarized field that also features GOP contenders leading in some surveys.
Former HHS secretary Xavier Becerra surged to the front of California’s crowded governor race after Swalwell’s exit, but is drawing renewed backlash from progressive critics over immigration handling, oil money donations, and his stance on single-payer health care, as Steyer and Porter attack his establishment credentials ahead of the June 2 top-two primary amid late fundraising and debates over his record.
Xavier Becerra surges in the California governor race after Rep. Eric Swalwell drops out, drawing new support and narrowing the gap with frontrunner Tom Steyer; the piece weighs his decades-long resume and endorsements against criticisms of his record—from his time as California attorney general and HHS secretary to his handling of COVID-19 and the migrant unaccompanied minors crisis—as Californians weigh experience and representation in a volatile primary that will determine November’s winner.
Former California state controller Betty Yee suspended her bid for governor weeks before the June 2 primary after failing to break into the top tier and facing fundraising challenges; her exit comes a week after former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew amid sexual misconduct allegations, leaving Katie Porter as the remaining prominent female candidate in a crowded Democratic field as the primary approaches, with Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican frontrunners also in the race.
With ballots arriving in two weeks, California’s governor race remains highly unsettled as Xavier Becerra surges to 13% after Eric Swalwell drops out amid misconduct allegations, tying billionaire Tom Steyer; Betty Yee withdraws for fundraising reasons, leaving a crowded field under California’s top-two primary system.
With Swalwell’s allegations scrambling California’s governor race, Newsom is weighing whether to intervene or endorse a candidate to prevent a Republican runoff that could deny Democrats the governorship. He’s been seeking fresh polling data and has consulted with party leaders like Pelosi and Schiff, but has offered no plan and remains noncommittal as ballots approach.
A fifth woman accuses Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a 2018 rape claim; Swalwell resigns from Congress as allegations mount, amid a Manhattan DA investigation and the collapse of his California gubernatorial bid, while he denies wrongdoing and condemns expulsion efforts.