In California's crowded gubernatorial debate, Democrats go on offense while Republicans lay blame on incumbents

Key Points:

• The California gubernatorial primary on June 2 remains highly competitive, with a crowded Democratic field including progressives like Tom Steyer and Katie Porter, and moderates such as Xavier Becerra and Matt Mahan, while two Republicans, Steve Hilton (Trump-endorsed) and Chad Bianco, vie for general election spots.
• Recent CBS News polling shows Hilton leading narrowly, followed closely by Steyer, with a significant portion of voters still undecided, leaving the race unsettled as candidates debate key issues like affordability, healthcare, education, and homelessness.
• Democratic candidates differ on policies such as the proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires, with some opposing it due to economic concerns, while Steyer and Thurmond support higher taxes on the wealthy; Republicans uniformly reject the tax and blame Democratic leadership for California's high costs.
• The debate highlighted sharp partisan divides, with Republicans blaming Democratic governance for the state's problems and pledging tax cuts, including eliminating the gas tax, while Democrats emphasize fighting corporate interests and addressing affordability without cutting taxes.
• With California's nonpartisan "jungle" primary system, there is concern among Democrats that a divided field could result in no Democrat advancing to the general election, underscoring the importance of voter decisions in the upcoming primary.