California Governor Candidates Grade Newsom Homelessness Record During Televised Debate
Six leading candidates for California governor squared off over Gov. Gavin Newsom's homelessness record during a televised debate in Los Angeles on April 22, 2026, with Democrats broadly defending his efforts and Republicans sharply criticizing them. MS NOW
The participants were Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco and Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Matt Mahan. Democrats generally gave Newsom passing grades, while Republican candidates called his record a "dismal failure" and an "F." PBS NewsHour Fox News Mahan also attacked Steyer directly, saying "The only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers." MS NOW
The clash came amid a crowded top-two primary that Democrats fear could yield two Republicans in November, and it followed recent shakeups in the field after Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and left the race and Betty Yee dropped out and endorsed Steyer. MS NOW Moderators pressed candidates on a range of issues besides homelessness, including housing policy, wildfire insurance, social media limits for kids and gas taxes. PBS NewsHour
Coverage has shifted in tone as the debate unfolded. Early reports emphasized a clear partisan split over homelessness, but subsequent pieces highlighted that all four Democrats gave Newsom B-minus grades or better while Republicans called the situation an outright failure, underscoring the partisan divide. Reporting that pushed that contrast also noted data showing California's homeless population rose from about 108,400 in 2019 to roughly 161,400 in 2024 despite billions in spending, and critics pointed to a high-profile San Francisco "poop map" as symbolic of policy breakdowns. Fox News
Show source details & analysis
📌 Key Facts
- The first major televised California governor debate was held in Los Angeles in late April 2026 and ran more than 90 minutes, covering housing, wildfire insurance, social media and gas taxes (PBS News).
- Six candidates participated: Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Matt Mahan (MS NOW).
- The debate exposed a clear partisan split on homelessness: all four Democrats gave Gov. Gavin Newsom a passing grade (B-minus or higher) while Republican candidates called his record an 'F' and a 'dismal failure' (Fox News).
- State and federal figures cited in coverage show California’s homeless population rose from about 108,400 in 2019 to roughly 161,400 in 2024 despite an estimated $20 billion in homelessness spending from 2019–2025 (Fox News).
- Critics tied homelessness and public-safety complaints to visible urban problems, pointing to San Francisco’s widely publicized 'poop map' documenting more than 270,000 reported feces complaints as a symbol of policy failure (Fox News).
- Moderator Nikki Laurenzo pressed Xavier Becerra about saying 'many of us heard the rumors' regarding Eric Swalwell; Becerra replied 'rumors are not facts,' said caucuses don't adjudicate such claims and noted only law enforcement can investigate—Swalwell has since resigned and faces multiple investigations (Fox News).
- Recent campaign shakeups: Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and dropped out of the governor’s race amid allegations, Betty Yee exited and endorsed Tom Steyer, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas endorsed Xavier Becerra, and Becerra and Matt Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup (MS NOW).
- Candidates differed on a proposed statewide ban on social media for children under 16: Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer said they would support a ban, while Chad Bianco and Matt Mahan said decisions should be left to parents (PBS News).
- On-stage attacks included Matt Mahan’s claim that 'the only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,' a line used to question Steyer’s record and investments (PBS News).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The WSJ opinion argues that Katie Porter may get a political boost in the California governor’s race because Eric Swalwell’s resignation amid allegations makes her perceived faults look minor by comparison, creating a limited opening to regain momentum. ([The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/at-least-shes-not-swalwell-3ce44b52)) ([The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/at-least-shes-not-swalwell-3ce44b52)) ([The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/at-least-shes-not-swalwell-3ce44b52)) ([The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/at-least-shes-not-swalwell-3ce44b52))"
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- All four Democratic candidates gave Gavin Newsom a grade of B-minus or higher on homelessness, with Katie Porter giving a B, Tom Steyer a B-minus, and Xavier Becerra effectively an A on effort.
- Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco explicitly called Newsom's performance an 'F' and a 'dismal failure,' criticizing Democrats' grades as out of touch with conditions on the ground.
- Article cites state and federal figures showing California's homeless population rose from about 108,400 in 2019 (32% lower) to 161,400 in 2024 despite an estimated $20 billion in homelessness spending from 2019 to 2025.
- Fox article links the homelessness debate to the widely publicized San Francisco 'poop map' highlighting over 270,000 reported feces complaints, used by critics as a symbol of policy failure.
- Confirms debate took place in Los Angeles on April 23, 2026, with over 90 minutes of questions on housing, wildfire insurance, social media, and gas taxes.
- Details each candidate's position on a possible statewide ban on social media use for children under 16, including Becerra and Steyer supporting a ban and Bianco and Mahan saying it should be left to parents.
- Provides clearer partisan framing on homelessness, with Democrats generally crediting Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republicans calling the state’s homelessness record a 'dismal failure.'
- Adds direct quote from Tom Steyer that 'Donald Trump is trying to punish California every way he can.'
- Quotes Matt Mahan’s attack that 'The only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers.'
- Moderator Nikki Laurenzo pressed Xavier Becerra to clarify his earlier comment that 'many of us heard the rumors' about Eric Swalwell, asking what rumors he heard and whether he should have acted as caucus chair.
- Becerra responded that 'rumors are not facts,' said the Democratic caucus does not adjudicate such claims, and argued that only law enforcement can investigate if someone comes forward.
- The article details a fresh ethics complaint by the conservative Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust urging the Justice Department's Office of Congressional Conduct to probe whether Swalwell leveraged his office to promote his Findraiser AI fundraising startup.
- It reiterates that Swalwell has resigned from Congress and dropped out of the governor's race, and is under investigation by the Los Angeles County DA, the Manhattan DA, and the Justice Department over multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
- Confirms that the first major televised debate has taken place in Los Angeles on April 22, 2026.
- Identifies the six participants by name and party: Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco; Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, and Matt Mahan.
- Details clear partisan split over homelessness, with Democrats generally defending Gavin Newsom's record and Republicans arguing billions have been spent with little progress.
- Quotes Matt Mahan attacking Tom Steyer by saying the only housing Steyer has built is private prisons and ICE detention centers, tying him to private prison investments.
- Notes top-two primary structure and Democrats' fear that a crowded field could allow two Republicans to advance to November.
- Reports recent candidate exits (Eric Swalwell resigning from Congress amid sexual assault allegations he denies; Betty Yee dropping out and endorsing Steyer) and endorsements (Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas backing Becerra).
- Explains that Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup after Swalwell left the race.
- Adds characterization of Democrats largely agreeing on bringing down household costs and countering President Donald Trump's agenda, while differing mainly in records and personal brands.