California Governor Candidates Clash Over Taxes and Insurance at Pomona Debate
Sacramento, Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
Eight California gubernatorial candidates clashed over bold economic proposals on April 28, including freezing insurance rates and cutting gas taxes, just as mail-in voting begins for the primary.
Housing Supply and Fiscal Reforms
The candidates also sparred over housing affordability, a major headwind for California’s labor market and corporate retention [GPT]. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pitched a US$25 billion first-time homebuyer assistance program, while State Superintendent Tony Thurmond pledged to build 2.3 million housing units by 2030, partially by utilizing surplus school district property [4]. Steyer and Porter focused on supply-side friction, advocating for reduced construction costs, faster permitting, and cutting bureaucratic red tape to stimulate development [4][5].
Polling Margins and Primary Mechanics
The urgency of these economic pitches is amplified by the impending June 2, 2026, primary election [4][5]. Under California’s top-two primary system, only the two candidates with the highest vote totals, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the November general election [1][4]. A CBS News/YouGov poll released on April 27, 2026, shows a tightly packed field: Hilton leads at 16 percent, closely followed by Steyer at 15 percent, and Becerra at 13 percent [4][5]. Becerra has seen a notable surge of 7 percentage points following the early April withdrawal of former Representative Eric Swalwell [1][5].