SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) \u2014 The leading candidates for California governor clashed in a lively debate Tuesday on everything from a proposed tax on billionaires to state-funded healthcare for immigrants in the country illegally.<\/p>\n
The debate, broadcast on CNN<\/a>, was one of their last chances to pitch themselves to voters and stand out from the pack in their primary election<\/a> bids to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out in January. Mail voting is already underway, and voters have until June 2 to cast their ballots. The top-two vote getters will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. <\/p>\n Though California hasn\u2019t had a Republican governor in more than a decade, the specter hangs over the race as the field is still crowded with less than a month to go.<\/p>\n Candidates who took part in the debate include Democrats Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary for the Biden administration; Katie Porter, a former congresswoman; Tom Steyer<\/a>, a billionaire climate activist; Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose; and Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles; as well as Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator; and Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how they responded on some of the key issues:<\/p>\n Universal healthcare<\/p>\n The candidates sparred over whether they\u2019d eliminate private health insurance in favor of a state-run system, an idea that has failed repeatedly<\/a> in Sacramento.<\/p>\n Porter, who backs a government-run healthcare system, pressed Becerra on his stance since he\u2019s wavered on the issue recently.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you support CalCare \u2014 California having its own state-run, single-payer system, yes or no?\u201d Porter asked. <\/p>\n Becerra gave a vague answer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing about having a Medicare for All plan is that it includes everyone,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we have to do is get to the point where we are covering everyone with something like Medicare for All.\u201d<\/p>\n Mahan, who opposes a state-run system, later chimed in and said Becerra \u201cwas unable to clearly answer the most important question on healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n Becerra contested: \u201cI did answer that question.\u201d<\/p>\n Steyer joined Porter in saying he\u2019d support it, while Bianco, Hilton, and Villaraigosa said it wasn\u2019t practical or would cost too much.<\/p>\n When the debate turned to healthcare access for immigrants, the candidates were divided.<\/p>\n Steyer, Porter and Becerra said they supported state-funded healthcare coverage for low-income immigrants without legal status, which Newsom passed<\/a> then pared back<\/a>. Bianco called the policy \u201cridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n Immigration<\/p>\n Other arguments about immigration fell largely along party lines. <\/p>\n The Democrats sharply rebuked the Trump administration\u2019s immigration raids.<\/p>\n Steyer said the state should prosecute federal agents and immigration enforcement leaders who racially profile or use violence against Californians. Mahan said business owners in San Jose have lost customers because many immigrants are afraid to leave their house.<\/p>\n But Bianco said he supported Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, saying agents were enforcing the law and working to deport people he referred to as \u201ccriminals\u201d in the country illegally.<\/p>\n Hilton, who\u2019s from England, pointed out that he was the only immigrant on stage. The candidates shouldn\u2019t conflate legal and illegal immigration, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough it is the federal government\u2019s responsibility to determine and implement immigration policy, I think it\u2019s important that all the laws are peacefully enforced,\u201d Hilton said. \u201cAs governor, I would make sure that we work with the federal government to enforce our laws.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/p>\n The Democrats each emphasized they would fight Trump on immigration policy in particular. <\/p>\n Neither Hilton, whom Trump has endorsed, nor Bianco, invoked him much except to say that Democrats unfairly blame him for the state\u2019s woes.<\/p>\n Becerra mentioned Trump the most, noting he sued the administration many times while serving as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021, when he was appointed health secretary under then-President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have because he\u2019s the menace,\u201d Becerra declared.<\/p>\n When Villaraigosa pressed Hilton to acknowledge Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Hilton refused to answer. <\/p>\n \u201cEndlessly going on about Donald Trump doesn\u2019t serve the needs of the struggling families and small businesses,\u201d Hilton said.<\/p>\n Mahan sought to find middle ground. He said Becerra was wrong to blame high gas prices solely on Trump, but also noted that San Jose has sued the Trump administration over immigration policy. He said it was disqualifying for the Republican candidates to support Trump\u2019s \u201ccruel and ineffective policies.\u201d<\/p>\n Porter, meanwhile, put it simply: \u201cDonald Trump sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n Gas tax and proposed billionaires tax<\/p>\n