California Governor Candidates Grade Newsom Homelessness Record During Televised Debate
Six leading candidates squared off over California's homelessness record during a televised gubernatorial debate in Los Angeles on April 22-23, 2026, sharply dividing Democrats and Republicans.
The panel included Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco and Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, and Matt Mahan. Democrats largely defended Gov. Gavin Newsom's record and gave him passing grades, while Republicans called the record a "dismal failure" or an "F." Mahan accused Steyer that "the only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers," and moderators pressed Becerra about earlier remarks that "many of us heard the rumors" surrounding Eric Swalwell.
The clash comes amid a crowded top-two primary that Democrats fear could let two Republicans advance to November. The debate followed recent shifts in the field: Swalwell resigned from Congress and left the race amid sexual misconduct allegations, Betty Yee dropped out and endorsed Steyer, and Becerra and Mahan were added late to the lineup.
Coverage of the episode also shifted as it unfolded. Early reports described a general partisan split over homelessness, while later accounts highlighted a starker contrast by naming the grades Democrats offered and by citing hard numbers: the state's homeless population rose from about 108,400 in 2019 to roughly 161,400 in 2024 despite roughly $20 billion in homelessness spending from 2019 to 2025, and visible frustrations like San Francisco's "poop map" of complaints intensified criticism.
Homelessness is poised to stay a central fault line in the campaign, shaping pleas for Newsom's endorsement and voter calculations in the crowded Democratic field as the race heads toward the June primary.
📌 Key Facts
- The first major televised California governor debate was held in Los Angeles on April 23, 2026, running over 90 minutes and covering housing/homelessness, wildfire insurance, social media, and gas taxes.
- Six candidates participated: Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco; Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, and Matt Mahan — Becerra and Mahan were late additions after Eric Swalwell left the race.
- Recent campaign shakeups: Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and dropped out amid multiple sexual misconduct investigations (Los Angeles County DA, Manhattan DA, and the Justice Department) and faces a separate ethics complaint alleging he leveraged his office to promote his Findraiser AI fundraising startup; Betty Yee also exited the race and endorsed Tom Steyer; Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas endorsed Becerra.
- Homelessness was a central, sharply partisan issue: Democrats generally defended or credited Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts (Democratic candidates gave Newsom grades of B-minus or higher — e.g., Katie Porter B, Tom Steyer B‑minus, Becerra effectively an A), while Republicans called the record a 'dismal failure' or an 'F.'
- State and federal data cited during 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; critics pointed to San Francisco’s widely publicized 'poop map' (over 270,000 feces complaints) as a symbol of policy failure.
- Notable clash lines included Matt Mahan’s attack that 'the only housing Tom Steyer's built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,' and Tom Steyer’s comment that 'Donald Trump is trying to punish California every way he can.'
- Moderator Nikki Laurenzo pressed Xavier Becerra about his earlier remark that 'many of us heard the rumors' regarding Swalwell; Becerra replied 'rumors are not facts,' said the Democratic caucus does not adjudicate such claims, and argued that law enforcement must investigate if someone comes forward.
- Candidates were split on a proposed statewide ban on social media use for children under 16: Becerra and Steyer supported a ban, while Bianco and Mahan said regulation should be left to parents.
📊 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."
📰 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.