In a 90-minute debate at Pomona College Tuesday evening, eight gubernatorial candidates shared their plans to address affordability and how they’ll support residents to attain the “California Dream.”
Former Fox News Channel host Steve Hilton opened the debate by making a commitment to make the state “Califordable,” with a proposal to decrease utility bills and making it easier to purchase homes.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the other Republican on the debate stage, added Democratic Party policies were “destroying California,” and blaming them for the housing and homelessness crisis, as well as the rising cost of living.
The Democratic candidates said affordability issues have been exacerbated by President Donald Trump and his policies, specifically citing the war with Iran and cuts to federal healthcare tax credits.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said he would sign legislation to temporarily suspend the state’s gas tax in response to prices having risen to their highest amounts since 2023 due to the war with Iran.
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, defended the gas tax, adding that if it were rescinded it would impact the state’s spending on road repairs, which the tax funds. He noted he would focus on building homes and lowering drug prices.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond explained his plans for supporting homeownership, which he described as “the American Dream.” He proposed the creation of down-payment assistance grants to help new homeowners, and the building of 2 million housing units on surplus property on school district-owned properties.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also supported such a program, offering a $25 billion plan.
Billionaire investor Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter backed efforts to streamline permits and creating more housing in order to address the state’s housing crisis.
On healthcare, Becerra criticized President Donald Trump for signing the “One Big Beautiful Bill” which reduced tax credits for healthcare.
“Had Trump allowed the premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to continue forward, millions of Californians would be able to afford their healthcare insurance,” Becerra said.
Becerra took a moment to insult Hilton, by saying the president was Hilton’s “daddy.” In response, Hilton said that was an example of “what’s wrong with our politics in California,” but did not elaborate.
Mahan agreed with Becerra, calling the reduction of health care tax credits “cruel.”
Porter and Steyer backed proposals for a single-payer healthcare system.
Steyer said he supports a state constitutional amendment repealing the 2% limit to increases in the assessments for commercial properties, unless they are sold, to assess them at market value. The limit was part of Proposition 13, the property tax cutting measure approved by voters in 1978.
The tax revenue from the change would help pay for single-payer healthcare, Steyer said.
In response to a question about cutting California’s highest-in-the-nation gas prices, Steyer repeated his proposal to import all the oil that is refined to gasoline for California.
Hilton stated he would support more oil drilling, and would take a more sensible approach about the transition to electric and green energy.
When asked about the deadly wildfires that have devastated California in recent years, and how they would prepare for natural disasters, Becerra said he would focus on prevention, deploy state personnel and resources to help families harmed by disasters.
Becerra also made a commitment to temporarily freeze insurance rates for homeowners — a plan quickly criticized by other candidates, who argued the plan was unconstitutional.
Bianco blamed the fires on Democratic policies and failures to address overgrowth.
Mahan said Becerra’s plan won’t work, adding it’s “the reason we’re in this mess in the first place.” Mahan said he would bring insurers back and force them to compete, which would result in lower prices.
Hilton agreed with Mahan, adding that it’s important to enforce the law, and ensure that rate changes are approved faster.
Several candidates supported preventative measures such as home hardening and more controlled burns.