The sleepy debates that characterized California’s governor’s race became a distant memory Tuesday night as CNN’s nationally televised showdown turned into an all-out slugfest.

The contest’s highest-profile debate yet —  moderated by CNN news anchors Kaitlan Collins and Elex Michaelson — saw five Democratic and two Republican candidates jabbing constantly at each other, all of them chasing the same two spots in a race with no clear front-runner and less than four weeks until June 2.

California voters are just now receiving their ballots in the mail and will soon decide which two candidates move on to the November general election.

Tuesday’s debate had candidates heatedly sparring over a range of issues including the cost of living, President Donald Trump, health care, immigration, artificial intelligence, housing and the state’s budget. 

Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s bruising encounter.

It’s no surprise that Tuesday’s debate saw the stakes raised and the (in)fighting turned up to 11: The national CNN platform offered the seven contenders a major audience to sell themselves. And, with time running out before election day, candidates who are struggling in the polls, like San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, likely saw Tuesday’s debate as a make-or-break moment for their campaigns. 

Each candidate had their time in the ring, and few escaped unscathed: Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra dinged billionaire Tom Steyer over his investments, but many of the candidates took turns to grill the former Biden Cabinet member on his healthcare views and his supposed ties to a Sacramento corruption scandal.

Steyer, leaning on his progressive platform, went after conservative commentator Steve Hilton for his ties to Trump, while candidates like former Rep. Katie Porter clapped back at him for supporting the state billionaire’s tax. Bianco went on the defensive over his affiliations with the Oathkeepers, a entity that critics say is a right-wing extremist group, but one that Bianco said is misunderstood.

Becerra has seen a big jump in the polls since former Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race over sexual assault allegations, making him a prime target for the six other candidates eager to stall his momentum. And a target he certainly was throughout this debate.

Becerra got clobbered from all sides after being asked about allegedly flip-flopping on his support (opens in new tab) for a single-payer healthcare system after meeting with the well-connected California Medical Group, a claim he denies. 

• Yes, Xavier Becerra is surging. Thank the FOXes

“I’ve been in enough forums with you where I’ve heard you say you’re for [single-payer], and I’ve heard you say you’re against,” said Villaraigosa. Becerra pushed back on the attacks: “I’ve never said I’m against it.”

But that wasn’t the only point of attack against Becerra: Candidates whacked him over the scandal involving Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff, who pleaded (opens in new tab) guilty in November to a criminal case involving campaign funds. “It’s a bit rich for Xavier to talk about following the law when he is mired personally in a corruption scandal,” said Hilton. Becerra had to parry a series of jabs, now coming from all sides, pointing out that he was never charged: “If I had been involved, the US attorney would have had me in that indictment. I was not involved,” he said.

Bianco, who is polling second behind Hilton as the other Republican in the race, pushed his conservative talking points hard as his chances of advancing past the June primary remain slim. 

The Southern California sheriff pushed back on the Democratic candidates on topics like immigration, claiming sanctuary policies have led to the state becoming less safe.

“I want Mr. Villaraigosa to tell the mother of the 14-year-old in my county that is dead because of an illegal immigrant that had been deported three times because of DUIs, that sanctuary state policy keeps us safe,” he said. 

He also defended his seizure of 650,000 ballots in response to allegations of fraud during the 2025 election and claimed that the term “homelessness” shouldn’t be used any longer: “This is not about homes. This is about mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, most importantly, the combination of both,” Bianco said.

A pattern quickly emerged: Republicans hammered the state’s failures on decades of one-party Democratic control, while Democrats deflected by pointing the finger squarely at Trump.

“Donald Trump is the president in all the other states of America, where the cost of living is way lower than in California. Obviously, it is way past time for change in California, and endlessly going on about Donald Trump doesn’t serve the needs of the struggling families and small businesses,” said Hilton. 

Asked about California’s affordability issues, Becerra turned toward the president. “Let’s focus on who’s raising the cost of living in California the most, and that’s Donald Trump. The price of gas has gone up one to two dollars because of Donald Trump and his war in Iran. The price of goods, groceries, has gone up in California because of Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs,” he said.

The high-stakes moment brought out some memorable lines from each of the candidates.

Hilton: “If you think that it can’t get worse in California, I’ve got two words for you: Tom Steyer. Under Tom Steyer, the taxes will be higher, gas prices will be higher. Everything will be higher - with Steyer.”

Porter, referring to an October video showing her yelling at a staffer: “I can’t believe that on a stage with 30 minutes of interrupting and bickering and name-calling and shouting and disrespect for everyone up here who’s stepping into public service, that anyone wants to talk about my temperament.”

Becerra against Hilton: “Donald Trump’s his daddy.”

Mahan, about California high-speed rail: “It shouldn’t cost us more to get to Modesto than it’s cost us to get to the moon.”