Seven candidates for California governor crowded a CNN debate stage in East Los Angeles on Tuesday, spending much of the two hours sparring and strategizing to gain an upper hand in a race that still remains fluid.
One of the few moments where the contenders didn’t interrupt each other or throw out attack lines came when they were asked about their plans to save Hollywood, as the industry grapples with a production flight to other states and countries.
Co-moderator Elex Michaelson noted that some of the candidates have come out with plans calling for unlimited tax credits to film and TV productions, rather than the $750 million currently allotted.
Asked if she also supports such open ended credits, former Rep. Katie Porter said she did, criticizing past leaders for complacency, and adding, “It’s a competition we can and must win. We have the most talented workforce. We have the best higher education system. But we do have to be competitive.”
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called the gubernatorial race an “existential election for Hollywood.” While he also backed an unlimited tax credit, he said “it needs to be above and below the line.”
“The notion too many people in Sacramento believe it should just go to camera operators and make up people. It has to go to everyone,” he said.
Other candidates did not answer, as Michaelson moved on to another question.
With CNN’s national audience, the two-hour event was the largest exposure yet for the gubernatorial field, and the candidates seemed well aware of it. Most peppered their answers with biographical details and accomplishments, while focusing their attacks on rivals with an eye to disrupting the latest poll positions.
The top two finishers in the June primary will go on to the November election, regardless of party.
Based on recent polls, the leading candidates include Republican Steve Hilton, the former Fox commentator, who has consolidated some support on the right following his endorsement from Donald Trump; and Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former secretary of health and human services, who has had a quick rise at or near the top following the exit of Rep. Eric Swalwell from the race.
As such, Becerra in particular found himself the a frequent focus of attacks from Democratic rivals, starting with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, seeking to break through the field.
“There’s a lot of talk on this stage, but we should be honest,” Mahan said. “The experience we hear from Secretary Becerra didn’t lead to better outcomes. That led to 85,000 migrant children who were lost. More fraud in our health care system.”
Villaraigosa also attacked Becerra, linking him with a pay scandal involving his former chief of staff, who plead guilty last year to a count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
Becerra seemed better prepared to try to deflect the attacks than in past debates, defending his record as HHS secretary and insisting multiple times that he was “not involved” in the scandal, noting that he was not named in the indictment.
“I think everyone’s invoking my name,” Becerra said. “It’s nice to hear my name quite a bit.”
He added, “I will tell you this: Distorting the facts in your quest to be governor is never good, but using Trump lies to try to damage your opponents is worse.”
Villaraigosa also spent a portion of his time focused on Hilton and the other Republican on the stage, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
As Hilton blasted one party Democratic rule in the state, Villaraigosa asked, “How can you say that Democrats have it wrong when you can’t admit that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election?”
Steyer also was a target, having spent more than $130 million so far on his campaign, per the New York Times. Although he has staked out some of the most progressive policy positions in the field, he is the sole billionaire in the race.
Even Hilton took a swipe. “You pay the lowest tax rate of anyone on this stage,” he said.
Steyer ignored the remark, and said, “I’m going to go after the oil companies, make them pay for their pollution and have a windfall profits tax. I am going to drive down costs for working people.” He also said that he would vote for a wealth tax if it made the November ballot, the only candidate to do so.
One of the more unusual moments of the debate came when co-moderator Kaitlan Collins asked Bianco about his criticism of Hilton.
Collins noted, “You have called him ‘unethical and dishonest’ and said that he is trying to ‘manipulate Californians’ and ‘swindled his way into the Republican side.’”
Bianco denied that he used the word “swindle.” After Collins said that it was a quote he gave to The Atlantic, Bianco continued to deny it. When she read through the full context of the quote, he said, “I probably did say that. I didn’t use the word ‘swindle,’ whatever it was. But that context, I will agree with you 100%.”
“So you did say the quote?” Collins asked.
“Sure,” Bianco said.
Becerra and some of the other Democrats tried to position themselves as best prepared to stand up to Trump, who is deeply unpopular in the state. Mahan said that “we don’t need more MAGA values, but we also don’t need more of the same.” For her part, Porter just came out and said, “Donald Trump sucks.”
That said, amid all of the arguing on stage, Porter did try to present herself as above the fray.
“I can’t believe that on a stage with 30 minutes of interrupting and bickering and name calling and shouting and disrespect for everyone up here who’s stepping into public service that anyone wants to talk about my temperament,” she said, a reference to video that surfaced last year in which she was caught berating a staffer. She apologized for it, but the incident has hung over her campaign.
“You were actually interrupting them, too,” Bianco said. “I don’t know why you want to act like you weren’t.”
“Oh, cowboy up, cupcake,” Porter replied.
