California Gubernatorial Debate Shows Partisan Divide

Wednesday’s California Gubernatorial Debate reinforced the race’s partisan divide and chaos, with no Democrat candidate standing out – other than to expose their Trump Derangement Syndrome, as they made the President their opponent.

Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco stood out significantly as they differentiated themselves by providing answers to some of California’s most serious issues that do not impose new taxes, or regulations, or more taxpayer-funded giveaways.

Hilton said he’d cut the gas tax and asked why we are importing oil from 7,500 miles away with all of California’s oil and gas reserves in California.

Bianco noted that gas prices are $2 cheaper right across state lines, and blamed one-party rule.

Tom Steyer blamed Donald Trump for the high gas prices, and said the President “is out of control.”

The most comical question of the evening was “What letter grade would you give Gavin Newsom’s performance?”

Xavier Becerra said he’d give Newsom an “A” on homelessness for his efforts because “he has cleaned up camps himself.” Who gives grades for effort?

Mahan gave Gov. Newsom a “B” for his care courts.

Katie Porter said she’s a tough grader, and gave Newsom a “B” on his approach to homelessness.

“We just learned why the failure of California education system if we can’t give a real grade,” Bianco said, and said homelessness is about drug and alcohol addiction. “We would have fixed the problem if Proposition 36 was funded.” He said homelessness “is not about homes. Every single dollar is going to NGOs and non-profits.”

Hilton told Porter “I’d love to be in your class Katie, if Newsom gets a ‘B.’ He gets an ‘F.’ Literally Gavin Newsom cleaning up homeless camps was a photo op. It’s illegal to live on the streets, and should not be a choice to not get treatment.”

Steyer gave Newsom a B- and then said he’d get the homeless off the streets as fast as possible, and would provide them emergency housing designed to meet their needs.

I was expecting Steve Hilton to be attacked for receiving President Trump’s endorsement.

Debate moderator noted that Hilton said he was “deeply honored” to recently receive President Trump’s endorsement, “despite the fact that 62% of Californians disapprove of the job he is doing. Are those Californians wrong?”

Hilton said, “One of the proudest days of my life was the day I became an American citizen, and said his ceremony took place “right here in San Francisco.”

Hilton added, “it is a deep honor for me to be endorsed by the President of the United States. He said when he is California governor, California will have a constructive partnership with the federal government to make things better in California. He added he would work with the president and his administration “to manage the forests better, to harvest the timber so we can build the single-family homes we need for young families… to work to increase California energy production as he wants to do so we can lower gas prices, to fight the fraud in our government so we can cut spending and cut taxes, to work to enforce our immigration laws.”

“In all these areas and more it will benefit every Californian to have a governor who is a partner on these issues with the president and his team.”

Perhaps the most disturbing moment in the debate was when the moderator asked candidates if the California CHP and DMV should be giving English tests to commercial truck drivers, and noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation is withholding federal funding from the state over this issue. He did not mention that California illegally issued 17,000 non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses to drivers who could not read or speak English, or the horrific crashes involving commercial truck drivers.

Becerra blamed President Trump and asked if the CHP should be giving English proficiency tests to truck drivers. “Is the CHP asking everyone to do English proficiency tests?” he asked.

Following the debate, California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas declared Becerra the winner, calling him “El Gobernador,” clearly referring to the English language issue.

El Gobernador? That's The California Governor. Which is precisely why @XavierBecerra lost the debate when he said the CHP shouldn't be issuing English proficiency tests to commercial truck drivers, who are pulled over for blowing past road signs in English. And then he asked if… https://t.co/9iRyiUpKOS

— Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) April 23, 2026

Becerra’s campaign ads appeal to illegal immigrants, and what they will get if he’s elected, including free health care on California’s Medi-Cal system.

Becerra wants to give free health care to illegal aliens while Californians struggle to pay health insurance premiums, or even be able to see a doctor.

Um, no. https://t.co/YyXxKqBGYk

— Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) April 22, 2026

Steyer claimed “racial profiling is illegal – we must stop racial profiling.” And he blamed Donald Trump again.

Mahan said “the right answer is to hold the DMV accountable to make sure every commercial driver is qualified.”

Hilton told the story of talking with Marcus Coleman from Bakersfield, whose “beautiful daughter, Dalilah, was put into a coma by someone driving a truck, an illegal immigrant who didn’t speak English. His daughter is now disabled for life. That’s what we’re dealing with here.”

“It is completely ridiculous that we have people driving on our roads who can’t understand road signs and can’t speak English,” Hilton added. “So, yes, of course!” He said he’s discussed this issue with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

“We will not be issuing commercial driver licenses, when I’m governor, to people who are illegally here and don’t speak English. That is obvious common sense.”

When asked if candidates would throw their support behind the party nominee, Bianco said “no” because it will be two Republicans on the ballot.

Hilton said “yes, I will be because we’ve had 16 years of Democrat Party rule.”

All of the Democrats said they would support their candidate.

Nothing new came from the closing statements:

Mahan: “Californians deserve better. As Mayor of the third largest city in California…”

Porter: “Elections are about who you trust to represent you. I’m a mom.”

Becerra: “California is going through a crisis. We don’t need training wheels in the Governor’s office. I will beat back Trump, uphold DACA… I have 33 years of experience and accountability…”

Steyer: “I’m the change agent here and oil companies, PG&E, Donald Trump and ICE don’t want me. Organized labor, teachers union want me…”

Hilton: “We obviously need change in California after 16 years of One-Party Rule… it’s time to make our state Califordable. $3 gas. Lower taxes. A home you can afford…. and to vote different this year.”

What is interesting about reporting on a political debate, after taking pages of notes as the debate was happening, and then transcribing the answers, the standouts gave concise, clear answers, specifics.

What did we learn? Steyer rambled and he hates Donald Trump. Becerra babbled in platitudes, and is campaigning to millions of illegal immigrants. Porter is a single mom and a tough grader. Mahan is the Mayor of the third largest city in California. Bianco is fed up with one party rule, is tough on crime and is no-nonsense. Hilton is fed up with California’s Democrat rule, failing schools, housing crisis, high gas prices, high taxes, high energy prices, and waste and fraud.

This is what the candidates told us last evening during the debate.