OAN Staff Jenna Lee and Brooke Mallory
6:00 PM – Wednesday, April 29, 2026
With only a week remaining before mail-in ballots reach California voters, the eight leading gubernatorial hopefuls gathered at Pomona College for a high-stakes primary debate.
This late-stage encounter served as an opportunity for candidates to distinguish themselves within a crowded and competitive field.
The Democrat lineup featured an array of “political heavyweights,” as described by analysts, including former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, current San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Representative Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Representing the Republican side were former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
The evening’s most contentious exchanges centered on Becerra’s federal record, with Mahan and Hilton frequently teaming up to criticize his handling of public health and insurance policies.
Mahan specifically targeted Becerra’s tenure as former President Joe Biden’s HHS Secretary, arguing that his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the monkeypox outbreak, and the influx of illegal alien children at the Southern Border was unacceptable.
These critiques highlighted the primary’s central tension: whether Becerra’s national experience is an asset or a political liability in his bid for the governorship.
“Have you read the statute that sets out the governor’s emergency powers?” Hilton asked Becerra after he said he would freeze insurance policies and declare a state of emergency to prevent homeowners from losing their insurance.
After Becerra said he had, Hilton responded, “Then you would know that what you’re proposing is not in there. You can’t do it.” “That’s not correct,” replied Becerra.
After Becerra said he had, Hilton added, “Then you would know that what you’re proposing is not in there. You can’t do it.” “That’s not correct,” replied Mr. Becerra.
While the candidates went back and forth from answering questions to attacking their opponents, Bianco stood out as the most memorable candidate.
“If you want socialism, go somewhere else!” Bianco asserted, criticizing the Democrat field for their support of taxpayer-funded healthcare.
He also drew a direct parallel to the state’s struggling insurance market, arguing that government-led intervention has already proven a failure in the realm of fire insurance. Bianco anchored his platform on a total rejection of the status quo, repeatedly insisting that the only way to solve California’s growing issues is to dismantle the “broken Democrat policies” and a culture of political “lies.”
Addressing an audience largely composed of college students, Bianco then struck a defiant yet somber tone about the Golden State’s future.
“I’m not afraid of anything—I’m truly not,” he told the crowd, “but I am terrified that one of these people on this stage will be your next governor.” He argued that the current political trajectory would eventually force the younger generation to leave the state, calling the situation “absolutely ridiculous.”
His frustration with the event’s format and his opponents’ platforms was even more evident at the finish. As the forum wrapped up, Bianco didn’t mince words, dismissing the entire proceeding as an “hour and a half that you’re never going to get back.”
The debate was widely described by local analysts as “chaotic” and “messy,” exemplified by constant interruptions and a few specific policy clashes that stood out.
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The “Insure the Insurers” Jab
One of the most technical but memorable moments involved the state’s insurance crisis. Porter criticized California’s FAIR Plan as a “huge financial liability” and proposed a state-backed plan to “insure the insurers” (reinsurance) to lure companies back to California.
Bianco immediately interrupted, dismissing her plan as “single-payer” and “failed environmental policy,” leading to a tense “I’m speaking” rebuke from Porter that was widely shared on social media after the event.
The Private Prison Jab
Mahan went on the offensive against Steyer, criticizing Steyer’s credentials. Mahan stated that “the only housing Tom Steyer’s built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,” referring to Steyer’s past hedge fund investments.
Steyer then pushed back, framing himself as the “billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires” and highlighting his work “financing low-income housing.”
Gas Taxes / Global Conflict
Gas prices were a major taking point.
Mahan called for an immediate suspension of the state gas tax, labeling it “regressive.” In contrast, Steyer blamed high prices on President Donald Trump and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Becerra then argued that cutting the gas tax would “upend the state’s budget” and jeopardize “critical infrastructure projects” like bridge and transit maintenance.
Student Questioning
Since the event was at Pomona College, the candidates faced direct questioning from the community.
A U.S. Marine Corps officer candidate, and current student, asked how they would make California “affordable” for recent graduates.
This prompted Thurmond to pitch his “Pay It Forward” plan, which would allow students to defer tuition until they are employed, while Seve Hilton leaned into his “Califordable” campaign slogan — though he was criticized by moderators for failing to provide specific policy details on how to lower utility costs.
Swalwell
This was the first major televised debate since former Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race.
Analysts argued that his absence left a vacuum on the Democrat side that Becerra and Steyer were aggressively trying to fill, often by attacking each other’s records rather than focusing on the Republicans on stage.
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According to the latest CBS News/YouGov and CalMatters analysis released right after the debate, here is where the field stands:
- Steve Hilton (R): Holds a narrow lead with 16% to 20%, depending on the specific poll. He also continues to dominate the Republican and conservative-leaning independent vote, largely due to his high name ID from his time at Fox News.
- Tom Steyer (D): Is effectively tied for the lead at 15%. His massive $132 million self-funded ad blitz has successfully consolidated a large portion of the Democrat base, despite being a frequent target during the debate.
- Xavier Becerra (D): Is the primary “surger” at 13% to 23%. Following Swalwell’s exit from the race, Becerra has seen the most significant growth in support, though he faced the heaviest criticism during the debate regarding his federal record.
- Chad Bianco (R): Remains a serious contender at 10% to 17%. While he trails Hilton among Republicans, his aggressive debate performance has kept him within striking distance of a “top-two” runoff spot.
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