California Gubernatorial Candidates Square Off Over Housing Costs, ICE, and Trump’s Legacy

California’s high-stakes gubernatorial primary took center stage Tuesday night in a no-holds-barred debate at East Los Angeles College, where candidates traded barbs over the state’s crushing cost of living, immigration enforcement, and the lingering influence of Donald Trump. Moderated by CNN anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins, the debate featured six Democrats and two Republicans vying for the chance to lead the nation’s most populous state.

Democrats like former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra framed their party as the champions of economic opportunity and inclusion. “Democrats are the ones that aspire to include everyone and not leave anyone behind,” Becerra said, invoking his immigrant roots to underscore his vision for a broader California dream.

Billionaire Tom Steyer zeroed in on housing as the root of the affordability crisis, calling it the “biggest problem in California.” He pledged aggressive action against corporate interests and utility companies, promising expanded government involvement in healthcare and cost controls on essentials like electricity and gasoline.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan positioned himself as a reformer willing to challenge the Democratic establishment, touting his record on public safety and homelessness. Former Congresswoman Katie Porter warned that California must adapt to rapid technological and economic shifts while defending itself against an “unreliable federal partner” — a clear nod to the Trump administration’s antagonism toward the state.

On the GOP side, podcaster Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco pinned California’s woes on 16 years of unchallenged Democratic rule. Hilton accused Democrats of refusing to take responsibility for the state’s economic struggles, while Bianco blamed excessive regulations for driving up costs and hurting businesses.

The debate’s temperature rose sharply when immigration enforcement entered the fray. Bianco decried California’s sanctuary policies as obstacles to federal ICE raids and criticized local officials for limiting federal agents’ reach. Villaraigosa fired back, insisting California still cooperates on transferring violent offenders to federal custody and labeling Bianco a “bully” for his past ties to the far-right Oath Keepers group — a connection Bianco initially defended but later said he no longer maintains.

Trump’s shadow loomed large, with Villaraigosa calling out Hilton for refusing to acknowledge Trump’s 2020 election loss. Katie Porter didn’t mince words, delivering one of the night’s sharpest rebukes: “Donald Trump sucks.”

This debate laid bare the stark divisions over California’s future, with candidates debating not just policy but the very values shaping the state’s response to economic hardship, immigration, and the Trump era’s ongoing fallout. As voters weigh their options, the fight for California’s governorship promises to be a defining battle over accountability, leadership, and the soul of the Golden State.