{"id":2076,"date":"2026-05-15T20:02:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T20:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/ca-governor-candidates-clash-in-last-debate-before-primary-heres-what-to-know-2\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T20:02:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T20:02:44","slug":"ca-governor-candidates-clash-in-last-debate-before-primary-heres-what-to-know-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/ca-governor-candidates-clash-in-last-debate-before-primary-heres-what-to-know-2\/","title":{"rendered":"CA governor candidates clash in last debate before primary. Here\u2019s what to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Democratic candidates piled on new frontrunner Xavier Becerra in the final televised debate before California\u2019s primary, hammering him over a corruption case involving two former aides. Candidates also clashed over abortion, climate change and housing policy ahead of the June 2 vote.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/ca-governor-candidates-clash-in-last-debate-before-primary-heres-what-to-know\/\">CA governor candidates clash in last debate before primary. Here\u2019s what to know<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>FULL STORY: California governor candidates focus on corruption, abortion and climate in final debate<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/can-california-keep-leading-the-electric-vehicle-transition-opinion-2\/\">Can California keep leading the electric vehicle transition? | Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Here are key takeaways:<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Becerra leads a tight race:<\/b> A Emerson College poll released Wednesday shows Becerra as the top choice for 19% of voters, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer tied at 17%.<\/li>\n<li><b>Corruption case dominates:<\/b> Becerra\u2019s former aide Dana Williamson pleaded guilty Thursday to charges including helping steal $225,000 from a dormant campaign account. Prosecutors have said they view Becerra as a victim in the case, but Hilton told him, \u201cYou should be preparing your criminal defense.\u201d Becerra said he \u201cdid nothing wrong.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><b>Abortion divide:<\/b> Asked if they would extradite a California doctor charged in Louisiana for mailing abortion pills, only Hilton and Republican Chad Bianco said yes. Hilton framed it as a constitutional issue, not one about reproductive rights. \u201cThis is not about abortion,\u201d he said. \u201cThis about one state trying to undermine another state\u2019s laws.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><b>Climate splits the field:<\/b> Hilton and Bianco were the only candidates to support resuming offshore drilling. Democrats also illustrated divisions among each other. Steyer warned California risks \u201cfalling behind the rest of the world\u201d on clean energy. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa panned climate deniers as well as candidates pitching 100% renewable energy, saying the state needed an \u201call-of-the-above energy policy.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><b>Policy specifics challenged:<\/b> Former Rep. Katie Porter pressed Becerra on how he\u2019d pay for his plans. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan noted Becerra released a comprehensive housing plan only a week ago. Becerra pointed to Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s revised budget as a model for revenue generation. He also said he had a track record of leadership, often turning the conversation back to his legal fights with President Donald Trump\u2019s first administration as attorney general.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media\u2019s AI policy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/juvenile-bear-spotted-overnight-crossing-parts-of-uc-davis-campus-officials-say\/\">Juvenile bear spotted overnight crossing parts of UC Davis\u2019 campus, officials say<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Becerra leads CA governor polls as rivals attack him over a corruption case. Candidates also clashed on abortion, climate and housing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-capitol-alert"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CA governor candidates clash in last debate before primary. 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