Candidates make their closing pitches in final pre-primary debate

Kevin Rector and Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times on May 15, 2026

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Candidates offered snapshots of their campaigns to close out the final debate in San Francisco before the June 2 primary.

Steve Hilton challenged the “one-party rule” of Democrats in California, saying it is “time for some balance.”

“I’m not an ideologue. I’m pragmatic, I’m a problem solver,” he said.

Matt Mahan pitched himself an anti-establishment fighter who’d improved San Jose.

He said he’ll bring “Californians together around results.” He said crime and homelessness are down and housing is up in his city, and he’ll replicate those results statewide by “challenging the establishment.”

Katie Porter said her policies will make living more affordable for all Californians, not just Democrats.

Tom Steyer said he is a billionaire fighting for working people, including by working to increase taxes on people like himself.

“I’m running to bring change and I’m running to make people’s lives better,” he said, adding that he will fight for the environment and healthcare.

Xavier Becerra said he has taken on reckless governments, ruthless corporations, launched civil rights investigations, overseen a budget larger than California’s and balanced it four times, and been through major challenges.

“What you don’t need is someone who needs training wheels” when they become governor, he argued.

Antonio Villaraigosa said he is the “adult in the room,” and that he made L.A. the cleanest, greenest city in the country — planning for the recently launched Westside subway and transforming L.A. from a deadly, dangerous city into the “safest big city in America” along with New York.

Chad Bianco said he is the only person on the stage working to solve the problems that Democrats have caused in the state every day. He said he already knows “how to work together” with Democrats, because he has to do it in Riverside County.

“California is broken,” he said, and Californians are “sick of being lied to” by Democrats, including those on the stage.