Democratic and Republican contenders for California's governorship sparred Tuesday night in a televised debate over taxes, healthcare access, and state spending amid a widening budget deficit.
Seven candidates appeared on stage in the CNN-hosted forum, including Democrats Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan, and Antonio Villaraigosa, along with Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. The discussion centered on California's $18 billion budget shortfall for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and proposals to expand services.
