{"id":303,"date":"2026-05-07T12:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T12:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/we-protected-kids-becerra-on-defensive-again-in-california-governor-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T12:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T12:34:32","slug":"we-protected-kids-becerra-on-defensive-again-in-california-governor-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/we-protected-kids-becerra-on-defensive-again-in-california-governor-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We protected kids\u2019: Becerra on defensive \u2014again \u2014 in California governor debate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the second night in a row, Democrat Xavier Becerra was in the hot seat.<\/p>\n

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Ahead in some polls in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, the former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services defended, deflected and punched back at four Democrats and two Republicans at the second straight debate ahead of the June 2 primaries.<\/p>\n

Read more California governor\u2019s race reveals risks in the top-two system | Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n

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Just two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the general election.<\/p>\n

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Wednesday\u2019s debate, hosted by Los Angeles NBC and Telemundo affiliates, initially seemed like a far calmer antidote to a combative CNN forum Tuesday night. There were even moments of consensus around issues like extending the life of California\u2019s last nuclear plant and matching film production tax credits offered by other states and countries.<\/p>\n

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But eventually, the candidates turned on each other, and particularly on Becerra.<\/p>\n

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A California Democratic Party showed the former state attorney general tied with Republican Steve Hilton at 18%. They were trailed by Republican Chad Bianco with 14% and Democrat Tom Steyer with 12%.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what to know about the debate.<\/p>\n

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Becerra on the defensive before the debate even started<\/h2>\n

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Steyer, a billionaire environmental activist, and two lower-polling candidates, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, picked up the attacks almost as soon as the CNN debate ended.<\/p>\n

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In a CNN roundtable following Tuesday\u2019s debate, Xochitl Hinojosa, who served as spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice under Biden, said that Becerra \u201cwas not effective in government\u201d and that she \u201cdidn\u2019t trust\u201d him to stand up to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

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That message was echoed by Michael LaRosa, a spokesperson for former First Lady Jill Biden.<\/p>\n

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Steyer, Villaraigosa and Mahan immediately cut ads from Hinojosa\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n

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The three Democrats, joined at times by Hilton, have aimed to revive unflattering reports from Becerra\u2019s time as HHS secretary, including internal criticism from Biden\u2019s team that he was missing in action during the COVID-19 pandemic, apathetic in responding to the surge in immigration, and partially responsible for a surge in minors who were trafficked into child labor.<\/p>\n

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The latter criticism came through loudest in Wednesday night\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n

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Villaraigosa had some of the sharpest attacks over that issue, claiming Becerra \u201cpushed out 85,000 migrant children,\u201d citing New York Times reporting on the issue.<\/p>\n

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Mahan also laid into his rival, noting that even some Democrats in Congress expressing concern after the story was published.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere is a direct line between his [Becerra\u2019s] failed leadership and Donald Trump being in the White House,\u201d Mahan said.<\/p>\n

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Becerra accused the men of regurgitating \u201cMAGA talking points\u201d that he said Trump used against former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe protected kids,\u201d Becerra said. \u201cWe did not let them be abused. Those were the employers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Rivals use the debate to drive home their political brands<\/h2>\n

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Wednesday night was the last of the debates with the seven leading candidates currently on the books, though some campaigns are weighing appearing at another event next week in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

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The candidates returned to themes and rhetoric that have animated their campaigns.<\/p>\n

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Becerra noted his experience taking on President Trump as attorney general and balancing large budgets in Biden\u2019s cabinet, delivering his message in emphatic but measured tones.<\/p>\n

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Hilton revelled in verbal jousting, castigating \u201cone party rule\u201d \u2014 and indirectly, the voters who keep electing Democrats \u2014 for failing to make progress addressing California\u2019s problems.<\/p>\n

Read more Party silent as Tom Steyer spends millions attacking fellow Democrats | Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bianco, sheriff of Riverside County, looked visibly disgusted at moments, saying Democrats told voters \u201ceverything you want to hear\u201d rather than reducing regulations and waste he argued held California back.<\/p>\n

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Steyer, a billionaire environmental activist, took aim at oil companies, utilities and corporate interests he said were driving California\u2019s affordability crisis, citing their attack ads against him as proof that he represented a threat to the status quo.<\/p>\n

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Former Rep. Katie Porter drove home her status as a consumer protection attorney and mother, saying she was the only candidate on stage who refused corporate donations.<\/p>\n

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Mahan didn\u2019t miss a chance to knock Becerra\u2019s record and return to his executive experience in San Jose, where he claimed success in reducing crime, building housing and addressing homelessness by reducing red tape.<\/p>\n

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Like Mahan, Villaraigosa cast himself as a pragmatist willing to take on Democratic orthodoxies, saying his party needed to stop \u201clooking for perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

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