CA Gubernatorial Debate Night Scorecard: Who Killed It, Who Bombed

I watched Wednesday night’s California gubernatorial debate, so you didn’t have to. Following Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (CA-14) spectacular Mach-5 speed political demise, six contenders made the grade, meaning that they garnered over five percent of voters in polling. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Biden-era Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra made the cut after Swalwell’s (alleged) perversions were exposed, and he had to drop out. (Bye.)

We’re not accustomed to seeing both Democrats and Republicans on the same debate stage, but in the Golden State’s open primary, where only two victors will emerge on June 2, two GOP contenders — frontrunner Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — appeared alongside the usual Dem suspects — Mahan, Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, and former Rep. Katie Porter.

I’ll cut to the chase: the winners were Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco on the Republican side; they were both ruthless and kept reminding viewers that all the massive failures in California have happened on the Democrats’ watch. 

I’ve seen Hilton speak numerous times, and he has a firm grasp of the issues and a winning message, but I haven’t seen Bianco in action as much. He capably handled every question thrown at him and came with fire on numerous subjects.

The losers: the toxic Katie Porter, who failed to stand out and seemed like an afterthought, and Becerra, who brought his extremist leftist politics firmly into the mix. Tom Steyer, whom I have heavily criticized in recent articles, actually almost seemed cogent compared to his Democrat comrades, while Mahan projected the Pete Buttigieg sort of “I’m such a reasonable and nice guy” vibe. 

Don’t believe it, though; he’s a California Democrat, and if elected, would pull a Spanberger so fast you wouldn’t even know what hit you.

MORE: It’s Showtime, and the Stakes Are Huge: 6 CA Gov. Candidates to Face Off in First Post-Swalwell Debate

‘Fight Fire With Fire’: Zany CA Gov. Candidate Tom Steyer Drops Jaw-Droppingly Tone-Deaf Campaign Mailer

I can’t give you the full 90 minutes of fun, but here are some standout moments. Chad Bianco with the home run:

Katie Porter gives a man named Chad Bianco a lecture on racism because he supports giving truck drivers language proficiency and knowledge tests when it comes to basic road signs to avoid fatal and near-fatal road crashes.

“I am stunned that Mr. Bianco would say to black and… pic.twitter.com/zQEb1m2ge2

— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) April 23, 2026

“I am stunned that Mr. Bianco would say to black and brown Californians and immigrants who are being terrorized and racially profiled that you have to get over racism.”

“It’s not something that you get over. It’s something that you fight. And if he doesn’t understand the importance of that. He has no business representing a state with the diversity [that California has].”

Bianco says that’s not even close to what he’s saying.

“Californians are absolutely sick and tired of our politicians making race the basis of everything. It is not, and this racial divide that they are pushing between law enforcement and the public or Democrat and Republican, absolutely has to stop.”

“And I’m telling you, we are sick of it.”

Yes, we are.

Since when did protecting citizens from illegal alien truckers driving 18-wheelers who have no idea what they’re doing become “racist?” This is the only message California politicians have: everything is about your skin color.

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Katie Porter channeled her deepest Dolores Umbridge (‘Arry Potter character) tonight in a misplaced effort to appear more likeable.

Reminder, Katie: Umbridge was a villain. pic.twitter.com/DWi8GF3GqF

— Bob Hoge (@Bob_Hoge_CA) April 23, 2026

As virtually every Democrat on the stage endorsed more taxes in the heaviest taxed nation in the union, meanwhile, Steve Hilton brought them a little reality: they tax-and-spend the hell out of us, but have very little to show for it:

BREAKING: Steve Hilton RIPS Democrats’ “insatiable appetite for more and more taxes for their bottomless money pit” during the California Governor debate pic.twitter.com/MEOr9nkdor

— Kalshi Politics (@KalshiPolitics) April 23, 2026

I kind of like this guy’s takeaway, although I think he is an obvious Steve Hilton fan and, in my view, sold Chad Bianco short. Frankly, Bianco was masterful.

Key takeaways from the California governor debate tonight:

– Xavier Becerra – too much of a nerd
– Tom Steyer – Radical left lunatic with $
– Katie Porter – She is physically abusive
– Matt Mahan – not a serious candidate
– Chad Bianco – Thinks two republicans will win in the… pic.twitter.com/QvRPSypcsu

— Yoshi The Patriot (@yoshithepatriot) April 23, 2026

Chad Bianco – Thinks two republicans will win in the primary.

@SteveHiltonx the only serious candidate with an actual plan to save California from the Democrat regime. Vote @TeamSteveHilton!

I am a fan of Steve Hilton, and think his ideas and criticism of the California Failure are spot-on, but Bianco is right — there could be only two Republicans left in the field after the June 2 primary, and that would be a wonderful thing. It would ensure that no “progressive” Democrat (how do they call themselves progressives when their entire worldview hinges on turning us backward?) can take the governorship after Gavin Newsom is mercifully termed out in January 2027.

MORE: There’s Actually a Chance We Could Have a Republican Governor in California — but There’s Only One Path (VIP)

In sum, here’s my prediction for the upcoming polls: Porter will drop, Mahan will see some increased interest, nobody cares about Becerra, Tom Steyer will hold steady, and voters who actually watched the debate will find that both Bianco and Hilton made powerful arguments.

California is broken, and more Democrat tax-and-spend, radical race and gender ideology politics is not going to fix it. Steyer, Porter, Becerra, and Mahan are just more of the same — failure theater on a grand scale. Will Golden State voters finally see the light? Sadly, I’ve lived here too long and am not holding my breath. 

But there’s a chance…

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