California Democrats Reluctant to Evaluate Gov. Gavin Newsom: A Political Standoff

Wednesday night’s debate for California’s governor’s race, featuring a lineup of four Democrats and two Republicans, may not have caused any major shake-ups in the election landscape. However, it did highlight the discomfort felt by the Democratic candidates when confronted with questions about Governor Gavin Newsom.

Moderators tasked the candidates with evaluating Newsom’s performance on addressing California’s homelessness crisis, asking them to assign a grade and share any alternative strategies they might employ. The responses were noticeably cautious, reflecting a desire not to offend Newsom, who had mentioned earlier that he intended to watch the debate. Despite the pressure, Newsom has stated he will not endorse any candidate in this race.

Among the Democrats, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan initially dodged the question of grading Newsom. It wasn’t until moderators insisted that he finally offered a “B” for Newsom’s efforts on homelessness. Mahan softened his critique by suggesting that the implementation of policies deserved a collective “D,” thereby spreading responsibility beyond just the governor.

Another Democrat, former Representative Katie Porter, prefaced her evaluation by declaring herself a “notoriously tough grader,” yet settled on a “B” for Newsom as well. Her assessment prompted a playful jab from Republican contender Steve Hilton, highlighting the tensions on stage.

He ultimately said he would give Newsom a “B” for his efforts on homelessness, before noting that he would “give all of us” a “D” for implementation, seemingly trying to avoid blaming only Newsom.

Democrat ex-Rep. Katie Porter bragged that she was a “notoriously tough grader” before also giving Newsom a “B,” earning a jab from Republican candidate Steve Hilton on the debate stage.

“Wow! I’d love to be in your class, Katie, if you get a ‘B’ for what Gavin Newsom’s done on homelessness,” Hilton exclaimed. “My goodness.”

Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, who made headlines for refusing to grade Newsom during a past interview, gave Newsom a “B-“.

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra — who has seen a recent surge in the polls — offered Newsom the highest marks on homelessness by giving him an “A” grade.

The Democrat, who appears likely to pick up support from political operatives in Newsom’s orbit, did add that it was important to track the use of anti-homelessness funding was going.

Unsurprisingly, the Republican candidates delivered brutal assessments of Newsom’s performance.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco described the homelessness crisis as a drug and mental health issue that Newsom has failed to solve.

“Every single bit of the money going to nonprofits and NGOs for homelessness ends the day I take over, and a small portion of that will go to the funding of the drug and alcohol centers that they need, the mental health centers that they need,” he said.

Hilton was more direct, saying Newsom’s efforts amounted to a “failure.”

The dance that Democrats appear to be doing could be attributed to the governor’s majority approval rating from Californians, even if his disapproval rating hit a high of 45% in February.

And while not expected, an endorsement from Newsom in the race could significantly sway the race.

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