Leading candidates to square off in TV debate at critical point in California governor's race

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six leading candidates for California governor will meet in a televised debate Wednesday — all of them eager for a breakout moment in a chaotic race with no clear leader.

With mail ballots scheduled to go to voters early next month in advance of the June 2 primary election, candidates are running short on time to break into contention. Under California election rules, only the top two vote-getters advance to the November election, regardless of party. Democrats have been fretting for months that a crowded field could result in two Republicans making it to November, a result that would be a historic calamity for Democrats in a famously left-leaning state.

The debate will bring together the two leading Republicans — conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — and four Democrats, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter,billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

With candidates angling for an advantage in front of a television audience, it is possible the debate could devolve into 90 minutes of shouting matches, finger-pointing and verbal backstabs as candidates compete for attention.

The campaign has just come through an unstable period, with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell — one of the leading Democrats — leaving the race and then Congress following sexual assault allegations that he denies. Another Democrat, former state controller Betty Yee, dropped out Monday after lagging in polls since entering the race in 2024, then endorsed Steyer. Meanwhile, Becerra picked up the support of Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.

Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup, after Swalwell exited the race. Both candidates have been getting fresh attention — and endorsements — in the reordered contest.

Becerra picked up Rivas' endorsement on Tuesday. Mahan, meanwhile, has been rolling out advertising to lift his campaign.

Democrats mostly agree on policy issues, including the need to bring down household costs and counter President Donald Trump's agenda. So they will be looking for ways to stand out on stage, either by stressing their own records and trying to sully those of competitors.

Porter, who became a social media celebrity by brandishing a white board at congressional hearings while grilling CEOs, could become the state's first woman governor. Steyer, a hedge fund manager-turned-liberal activist who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president in 2020, is known for his involvement in climate issues. Becerra is the most experienced politician in the group, after serving in the Biden administration, and as state attorney general, a congressman and state legislator. Mahan has been arguing that he has made gains against homelessness and crime while leading Northern California's largest city.

Look for California to be at the center of the stage, too.

Democrats have dominated government in the nation's most populous state for years. Republicans haven't won a statewide election in two decades, so Hilton and Bianco will be pounding familiar campaign themes, including faulting Sacramento's one-sided politics for the state's troubles. Those themes also include pointing out that billions in spending has done little to slow the long-running homeless crisis; the state has some of the nation's highest taxes, utility bills and gas prices; heavy government regulation is driving away jobs; and soaring home prices are out of reach for many families.

The race remains wide open.

Polling in late March and early April by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found a cluster of candidates in close competition: Democrats Steyer and Porter, Republicans Hilton and Bianco, and Swalwell. Other candidates were trailing. The polling was conducted before Swalwell withdrew.

California gubernatorial candidate Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco walks toward the podium to speak at the California Republican Party Convention in San Diego, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Steve Hilton speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Matt Mahan speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra walks down the steps after speaking at a campaign event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during a campaign event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Tom Steyer speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Katie Porter speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

NEW YORK (AP) — The flailing Mets returned home Tuesday to a quieter reception than manager Carlos Mendoza and his players anticipated with the club trying to snap an 11-game losing streak.

The tone changed once it became clear the skid was going to last at least another night.

Embattled closer Devin Williams allowed a tiebreaking RBI single to Luke Keaschall in the ninth inning and New York lost its 12th straight, falling 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

With an opening-day payroll of $352.2 million that tops the majors, the Mets have baseball's worst record at 7-16. The skid is their longest since they dropped 12 straight from Aug. 10-23, 2002. No team has made the playoffs after a season in which it lost 12 in a row.

New York is hitting .194 during the losing streak while being outscored 67-22. The Mets didn’t have slugger Juan Soto for any of that stretch, but he is expected to come off the injured list Wednesday after missing the last 16 games with a strained right calf.

“I’ve never been a part of something like this,” Williams said. “I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. But it’s obviously proving pretty difficult right now.”

Williams, who failed to record an out, was booed off the mound by what was left of the announced crowd of 32,798. The actual crowd appeared far smaller on a night when the temperature at first pitch was 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8 Celsius).

At least a few spectators showed their displeasure with the time-honored tradition of wearing paper bags over their heads.

Fans began chanting “Fire Mendy!” as Williams loaded the bases. Austin Warren relieved Williams and received an ovation when he struck out Royce Lewis. The crowd then chanted his name after he struck out the next two batters, Brooks Lee and Byron Buxton.

The mood was far lighter a few hours earlier.

Patrick Heaney, the only person in section 524 at Citi Field shortly before the start of the game, grinned as he gazed at a sea of empty seats.

“You wouldn’t be here tonight if you weren’t a Met fan,” Heaney said.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor said following Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs that he expected it to “get very loud” Tuesday night. But the fans didn’t make much noise until the third inning, when Lindor hit a three-run homer to open the scoring and give the Mets their biggest lead since a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on April 5.

“I think if they can get it going today, I think the fans will rally around them,” said Josh Hudson, a Tennessee resident in town for business who was sitting in section 509 with a $15 ticket he bought on the secondary market.

Heaney, a resident of Malverne on Long Island who wore a Mets hat and 2022 playoff sweatshirt, grinned as he recalled how he ended up buying a $12 ticket and heading to the game alone.

“I couldn’t get my wife to come,” Heaney said. “I couldn’t get my kids to come. I couldn’t get my friends to come. I bought one ticket, the cheapest one I could find, and I’m going to see if I can help them turn it around.”

Mendoza, in his third season as manager after six seasons on the Yankees’ coaching staff, said before the game he wouldn’t mind a frosty reception because he knows how fans will react if the team fares better.

“They’re also going to be right behind you when we flip it around,” Mendoza said. “We’ve seen that before, too, so it’s nothing new for us that have been here. We expect those guys to continue to support us, but we’ve got to do better for them, too.

“It’s all part of it. It comes with the territory. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

This story has been corrected. A previous version reported erroneously that Soto had a strained left quad.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams, right, hands the ball to manager Carlos Mendoza as he leaves during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Mets fans watch during the eighth inning of a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

A New York Mets fan watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, right, reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Lindor runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)