• DONATE TO SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS!
  • Sign In
  • Local News
    • Featured News
    • Bay Area News
    • Marin News Matters
    • Santa Clara County News Matters
    • Mendocino News Matters
    • Stockton News Matters
    • Equity Ripples
    • Amplifying Voices
    • Inspire Me
  • CA News
    • California Currents
    • California Local
    • KQED
  • Election Results
  • Crime, Justice, & Prison News
    • Inside/Out
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Prison News
  • The Big Issues
    • Living Longer & Aging in the Bay Area
    • Housing & Homelessness
    • Public Health
    • Environment
  • Arts & Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Bay City Books
    • Travel
    • Bay City Sketchbook
  • Education & Youth Voices
    • Education Matters
    • Youth Voices
    • Contra Costa Youth Journalism
  • Technology, AI & Innovation
    • Experiments with AI
    • Science, Nature & Technology
    • Data Points
  • Special Projects
    • Musk v. Altman
    • Audio Files
    • Bay City Beat
    • Listen In Marin
    • Remember When
    • Talkers
    • Trailblazers
  • About Us
    • About Our Staff
    • About Our Board
    • Bay City News Internships
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Newsletters
    • Bay City News … in the News
    • Sponsorships and Advertising
    • Write for Local News Matters
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • RSS

  • Local News
    • Featured News
    • Bay Area News
    • Marin News Matters
    • Santa Clara County News Matters
    • Mendocino News Matters
    • Stockton News Matters
    • Equity Ripples
    • Amplifying Voices
    • Inspire Me
  • CA News
    • California Currents
    • California Local
    • KQED
  • Election Results
  • Crime, Justice, & Prison News
    • Inside/Out
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Prison News
  • The Big Issues
    • Living Longer & Aging in the Bay Area
    • Housing & Homelessness
    • Public Health
    • Environment
  • Arts & Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Bay City Books
    • Travel
    • Bay City Sketchbook
  • Education & Youth Voices
    • Education Matters
    • Youth Voices
    • Contra Costa Youth Journalism
  • Technology, AI & Innovation
    • Experiments with AI
    • Science, Nature & Technology
    • Data Points
  • Special Projects
    • Musk v. Altman
    • Audio Files
    • Bay City Beat
    • Listen In Marin
    • Remember When
    • Talkers
    • Trailblazers
  • About Us
    • About Our Staff
    • About Our Board
    • Bay City News Internships
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Newsletters
    • Bay City News … in the News
    • Sponsorships and Advertising
    • Write for Local News Matters
Skip to content
Local News Matters

Local News Matters

Connecting audiences with quality, local news

  • DONATE TO SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS!
  • Sign In
Sign In
  • Local News
    • Featured News
    • Bay Area News
    • Marin News Matters
    • Santa Clara County News Matters
    • Mendocino News Matters
    • Stockton News Matters
    • Equity Ripples
    • Amplifying Voices
    • Inspire Me
  • CA News
    • California Currents
    • California Local
    • KQED
  • Election Results
  • Crime, Justice, & Prison News
    • Inside/Out
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Prison News
  • The Big Issues
    • Living Longer & Aging in the Bay Area
    • Housing & Homelessness
    • Public Health
    • Environment
  • Arts & Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Bay City Books
    • Travel
    • Bay City Sketchbook
  • Education & Youth Voices
    • Education Matters
    • Youth Voices
    • Contra Costa Youth Journalism
  • Technology, AI & Innovation
    • Experiments with AI
    • Science, Nature & Technology
    • Data Points
  • Special Projects
    • Musk v. Altman
    • Audio Files
    • Bay City Beat
    • Listen In Marin
    • Remember When
    • Talkers
    • Trailblazers
  • About Us
    • About Our Staff
    • About Our Board
    • Bay City News Internships
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Newsletters
    • Bay City News … in the News
    • Sponsorships and Advertising
    • Write for Local News Matters
Posted inCalifornia Currents

California governor debate: Rivals gang up on Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra

by Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
California gubernatorial candidates during a debate hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco on May 14, 2026. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo/Pool via CalMatters)

WHEN YOU’RE LEADING the polls, everyone takes their shots. Xavier Becerra found that out last week as six gubernatorial rivals ganged up on him in the final debate before California’s primary — attacking everything from his ethics to his ideas to his choice of political consultants.

It was their last chance to make a personal appeal to California voters ahead of the June 2 election to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

Continue reading for free

Sign in to read this story and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox.

Or

Terms & Conditions

Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.

Tagged: Antonio Villaraigosa, California governor race, CalMatters, campaign, debate, election, Gov. Gavin Newsom, June primary, Katie Porter, Mayor Matt Mahan, politics, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra

Local News Matters brings community coverage to the SF Bay Area so that the people, places and topics that deserve more attention get it. Our nonprofit newsroom is supported by the generosity of readers like you via tax-deductible donations to Bay City News Foundation.

FIND MORE STORIES

  • Local News
    • Featured News
    • Bay Area News
    • Marin News Matters
    • Santa Clara County News Matters
    • Mendocino News Matters
    • Stockton News Matters
    • Equity Ripples
    • Amplifying Voices
    • Inspire Me
  • CA News
    • California Currents
    • California Local
    • KQED
  • Election Results
  • Crime, Justice, & Prison News
    • Inside/Out
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Prison News
  • The Big Issues
    • Living Longer & Aging in the Bay Area
    • Housing & Homelessness
    • Public Health
    • Environment
  • Arts & Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Bay City Books
    • Travel
    • Bay City Sketchbook
  • Education & Youth Voices
    • Education Matters
    • Youth Voices
    • Contra Costa Youth Journalism
  • Technology, AI & Innovation
    • Experiments with AI
    • Science, Nature & Technology
    • Data Points
  • Special Projects
    • Musk v. Altman
    • Audio Files
    • Bay City Beat
    • Listen In Marin
    • Remember When
    • Talkers
    • Trailblazers
  • About Us
    • About Our Staff
    • About Our Board
    • Bay City News Internships
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Newsletters
    • Bay City News … in the News
    • Sponsorships and Advertising
    • Write for Local News Matters

Follow us

Twitter: @baynewsmatters
Instagram: @baynewsmatters
Facebook: @baynewsmatters

Local News Matters
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • RSS

Bay City News Foundation
(510) 251-8100
newsroom@baycitynews.com

Staff Page

Terms of Use

FIND MORE STORIES

  • Local & Community News
  • California News
  • Politics & Civic Engagement
  • Crime, Justice, & Prison News
  • The Big Issues
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Youth Voices
  • Technology, AI & Innovation
  • Special Projects
  • About Bay City News
© 2026 Connecting audiences with quality, local news Powered by Newspack

Sign in or register

Or

Sign in by entering the code we sent to , or clicking the magic link in the email.

Forgot password
Continue Set a password (optional)

Terms & Conditions. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Verify your email

We'll send a verification code to %EMAIL%.

Gift this article

Loading Comments...