Candidates for California governor tangle in testy debate with mail voting already underway

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seven candidates who want to be California’s next governor traded sharp attacks Tuesday in a wide-ranging debate that touched on issues from gas prices to raising taxes to healthcare in a contest that has no clear leader.

The televised debate came as mail voting was already underway in advance of a primary election that ends June 2. It was clear from the testy tone that candidates viewed the matchup as a critical juncture, with a national audience watching as it aired on CNN. The candidates are vying to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred by law from seeking a third term, to lead the nation's most populous state and one of the world's largest economies.

During the two-hour showdown, Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Democrats have made life worse for California's nearly 40 million residents during more than 15 years in the governor's office and that it's time for a change.

The Democrats — former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter,billionaire Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — tried to distinguish themselves on policy and said President Donald Trump is California's biggest threat.

An overarching issue was the punishing cost of living in California and how it might be eased, underscoring deep partisan divides. The average gas price was more than $6 per gallon in California on Tuesday, according to AAA.

Becerra was among those who argued Trump and the war in Iran are to blame for rapidly rising costs at the pump. Hilton and Bianco noted gas has long been much more expensive in California compared to other states due to taxes and regulations.

But when Hilton said he could reduce gas prices to $3 a gallon, Mahan fired back, “You’re lying to people.”

“Donald Trump is the president in all the other states in America where the cost of living is way lower than in California," responded Hilton, who has Trump's endorsement.

“Boys, boys, enough with the bickering,” Porter, the only woman on stage, interjected at one point.

The contest is unfolding as California struggles with a long-running homeless crisis, wildfire insurance shortages, projected budget shortfalls and housing costs that are out of reach for many working-class families. Voters, meanwhile, are saddled with growing everyday bills for groceries, utilities and gas.

Trump — who is widely unpopular in California outside his conservative base — was frequently denounced by Democrats, while Republicans said he was being used as a convenient scapegoat for the failures of the state's Democratic leadership.

“Yes, I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have to because he’s the real menace that we have in California,” Becerra said.

“Donald Trump sucks,” Porter said bluntly.

The candidates sparred over tax policy, with only Steyer saying he supports a one-time tax on billionaires that’s likely to be on the ballot this November. He said it wasn’t the only tax increase he’d seek. Porter, meanwhile, said the tax was too narrow and wouldn’t make a real change. Mahan, who wants to suspend the state's gas tax, said his fellow Democrats have focused too much on expanding government rather than making it work better. Hilton pledged to make people's first $100,000 free of income tax.

Beyond policy, the candidates looked for openings to knock down their rivals. Becerra was peppered with questions about the federal indictment of his chief of staff and others, including a former top Newsom aide, alleging they stole campaign money from him. The indictment alleges the scheme was designed to pad the salary of Becerra’s chief of staff when Becerra was serving as the federal health secretary. Several people involved have pleaded guilty.

Becerra has not been implicated or indicted, but Villaraigosa and Hilton used the incident to question his judgment and suggest he may have been involved. Hilton said that, if elected, he would even push the state attorney general to investigate Becerra.

"If I had been involved, the U.S. attorney would have had me in that indictment. I was not involved,” Becerra said.

Bianco faced questions about his decision to seize more than half a million ballots in Riverside County to investigate claims of election fraud that local officials say are unfounded. The state Supreme Court ordered his investigation halted.

Porter was asked about a new ad in which she refers in jest to an embarrassing video that surfaced last year showing the former House member loudly berating a staffer. Porter said it showed “I’m able to take responsibility.”

She added, “If these boys bullying and bickering hasn’t been enough to raise questions about their temperament, I would really challenge that.”

Hilton, meanwhile, refused to answer when pressed about whether Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.

California puts all candidates on a single ballot and the two with the most votes go on to the November general election, regardless of party. Democrats have worried that their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, which would be a historic calamity for the party.

The GOP has not won a statewide election in California in two decades, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about 2-to-1 statewide.

Austin reported from Sacramento, California.

Chad Bianco participates in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Katie Porter participates in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Steve Hilton participates in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Xavier Becerra participates in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

From left to right, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco and Matt Mahan participate in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

From left to right, Antonio Villaraigosa, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Xavier Becerra and Matt Mahan participate in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Chad Bianco speaks during a gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Tom Steyer speaks during a gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Steve Hilton speaks during a gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Katie Porter speaks during a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Xavier Becerra speaks during a gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire primary voters are choosing candidates for Congress, governor and the 424-seat state Legislature on Tuesday, and incumbents aren’t the only familiar names on the ballot.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s decision to not seek reelection created a cascade of competitive races. Two of the eight Republicans hoping to replace the three-term Democrat are former U.S. senators she previously defeated: John E. Sununu and Scott Brown. The five-way race for the Democratic nomination includes U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, whose departure from his 1st Congressional District seat in turn attracted a crowd of candidates.

Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen, is among those seeking the Democratic nomination for Pappas' seat, along with former candidate Maura Sullivan. Several other candidates in top races also are making repeat appearances.

Sununu, who spent six years in the U.S. House and one term in the Senate before being ousted by Shaheen in 2008, has this time focused on themes including affordability for housing, healthcare and energy, holding Congress accountable and constituent service.

“I’ve been out of politics for 17 years. I’m not worried about reelection,” he said during a campaign stop last month. “I don’t need an appointment or a job. I don’t need to make anyone happy. I need to do one thing: Stand up for the people of New Hampshire.”

Brown previously represented Massachusetts, where he won a special election in 2010 after the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy before losing in 2012. He unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014 and served as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during President Donald Trump's first term.

In a July interview, he said he decided to run again because New Hampshire Republicans have no representation in Congress and because, in his view, his experience as a veteran, lawmaker, ambassador and grandfather is unmatched.

He accuses Sununu — whose father and younger brother are former governors — of coasting on his name. Sununu also has the backing of Trump, despite having called him “a loser” in 2024, but Brown said that will just make him beholden to the president and other special interests.

“I’m the only truly independent candidate here who can actually vote on anything with a clear conscience and with New Hampshire’s best interests at heart,” Brown said.

Jim Loomis, 83, of Bow, said he backed Brown in 2014 but not on Tuesday because “he never got traction back again." He acknowledged Sununu had been out of politics for even longer but still voted for him.

“I think what he's done for work over the years has kept him close enough to what's going on, and then with his family ties, I just think he's got a more stable base,” he said.

Pappas, who is giving up his House seat after four terms, raised twice as much money as Sununu and Brown combined and dwarfed his Democratic primary opponents, as well. He also enjoyed a wide lead in polls, though recently lost some ground to scientist and democratic socialist Karishma Manzur.

Kristin Selesnick, 41, of Bow, said Pappas was a “fine” candidate but she doesn't like that he accepts money from super PACs and that he voted “present” on a measure to restrict weapons sales to Israel instead of voting no. She voted for Manzur.

“I just like her whole platform,” she said. “I think she would be a great voice for the Granite State.”

Stefany Shaheen and Sullivan are the leading candidates among seven seeking the Democratic nomination in the 1st District.

Shaheen is a former city councilor in Portsmouth. She founded a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after one of her daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She also is part of a bio-tech initiative in New Hampshire to advance regenerative medicine.

Sullivan is a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama. A vice chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Sullivan ran for the 1st District seat in 2018, losing in an 11-candidate primary to Pappas in his first congressional bid.

The Republican field of four candidates includes political newcomer Anthony DiLorenzo, who owns a chain of car dealerships and has been endorsed by Trump, and Hollie Noveletsky, a veteran and nurse practitioner who runs a steel fabrication company and ran for the same seat two years ago.

In the 2nd District, first-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Maggie Goodlander faces a primary challenge from Paige Beachemin, a progressive state lawmaker and nurse. The four-person Republican primary field includes Lily Tang Williams, who was the nominee two years ago and is making her third attempt at the seat.

In contrast to the all-Democratic congressional delegation, Republicans dominate state government.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte faces two little-known opponents in her primary as she seeks a second two-year term. Cinde Warmington, a healthcare attorney, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Voters also will be nominating candidates for the entire state Legislature, where Republicans hold a roughly 40-vote majority in the 400-member House and outnumber Democrats in the Senate 16-8.

Accustomed to going first when it comes to presidential primaries, New Hampshire is among the last states to hold state-level primary elections, leaving the winners just eight weeks to woo voters before Nov. 3. But legislation passed this year moves future state primaries to the second Tuesday in June.

Karishma Manzur, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, talks with a group of potential voters outside Brothers Cortado in Bicentennial Square in Concord, N.H., Friday, July 24, 2026. (Geoff Forester/The Concord Monitor via AP)

Former Sen. John E. Sununu, who is seeking the GOP nomination for his old seat, takes a selfie with supporter Sudie Francouer, in Berlin, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican who previously represented Massachusetts and is making his second run for Senate in New Hampshire, addresses voters at an American Legion hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

FILE - Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, April 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown listens to a voter in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, as he campaigns for the GOP nomination for the state’s open Senate seat. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Former Sen. John E. Sununu, who is running for his old seat nearly 18 years after being ousted, mingles with voters at the Coos County Republican Committee BBQ in Berlin, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)