Trending Now - California Governor Race Heats up in First Major Debate

WHO:

WTNH - Six candidates are running for California governor.

KQED - Candidates include Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Steve Hilton, and Chad Bianco.

KQED - Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas endorsed Xavier Becerra.

WHAT:

KQED - Oil companies spent $5 million against Tom Steyer on April 22nd, 2026, which was Earth Day.

Los Angeles Times - Tom Steyer stated, “I’m the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires. I’m the billionaire who’s taking on the electric monopolies and trying to break up their power. I’m the billionaire who wants to tax the oil companies and make polluters pay.”

KQED - Becerra misspoke during the debate, referring to the United States’ war against Iraq instead of Iran.

KQED - Becerra claimed he balanced four federal Health and Human Services budgets that were “larger than the budget of the state of California.”

KQED - Matt Mahan criticized Steyer, saying, “The only housing Tom Steyer built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers.”

KQED - Steyer highlighted that his nonprofit bank has financed more than 17,000 low-income housing units.

WTNH - Tom Steyer has contributed $133 million to his own campaign.

Los Angeles Times - Oil companies spent $5 million against Steyer on April 22nd, 2026, which was Earth Day.

KQED - Becerra was endorsed by Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on April 21st, 2026.

KQED - The California primary election is scheduled for June 2nd, 2026.

WTNH - The first major debate for California governor took place on April 20th, 2026.

KQED - Tom Steyer faced significant criticism regarding his wealth and past investments in private prisons and the oil industry.

KQED - Katie Porter criticized Steyer, stating, “One candidate is a billionaire who got rich off polluters and ICE prisons and is now using that money to fund this election.”

KQED - Becerra pitched his candidacy as a steady hand following the exit of Eric Swalwell from the race.

WHERE:

WTNH - The debate occurred in California.

WHEN:

WTNH - The debate was held on April 20th, 2026.

KQED - Ballots are set to reach voters in California in less than two weeks from the date of the debate.

WHY:

KQED - The debate highlighted the struggle among Democrats to coalesce around a candidate ahead of the June primary.

HOW:

KQED - The debate was hosted by Nexstar and moderated by KTXL FOX40 anchor Nikki Laurenzo and KTLA anchor Frank Buckley.

KQED - Candidates focused on defining their platforms rather than attacking each other, likely due to the crowded field and the need to introduce themselves to voters.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 23:17 UTC)

On Earth Day, oil companies spent $5 million in opposition to Tom Steyer, who boldly declared, “I’m the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires” while addressing his plans to challenge electric monopolies and hold oil companies accountable for pollution. During a recent debate hosted by Nexstar, Becerra mistakenly referred to the U.S. war against Iraq instead of Iran, while also claiming he balanced four federal Health and Human Services budgets larger than California's state budget. In response to criticism from Matt Mahan about his housing initiatives, Steyer emphasized that his nonprofit bank has financed over 17,000 low-income housing units.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Tom Steyer has poured a staggering $133 million into his own campaign as the California primary election approaches June 2nd. On Earth Day, oil companies countered his efforts by spending $5 million against him, highlighting the fierce competition in the race. Meanwhile, Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas endorsed Becerra on Tuesday, as candidates are focusing on defining their platforms rather than attacking one another in this crowded field.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 13:23 UTC)

The first major debate for California governor took place on Monday, featuring six candidates, including Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Steve Hilton, and Chad Bianco. During the debate, Steyer faced criticism for his wealth and past investments, with Porter calling him out for profiting from polluters and private prisons, while Becerra positioned himself as a steady choice following Eric Swalwell's exit from the race. As ballots are set to reach voters in less than two weeks, the debate underscored the Democrats' struggle to unite behind a candidate ahead of the June primary.