By Arit John, CNN
(CNN) — Eight candidates seeking to become California’s next governor met for an unwieldy debate Tuesday, where the candidates discussed their plans to make the state more affordable and sought to gain ground in an unsettled field.
The debate, hosted by CBS News affiliates in California, comes as the race’s remaining candidates seek to carve out a lane for themselves after former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the contest earlier this month.
Xavier Becerra, a former Health and Human Services secretary under former President Joe Biden, has risen in recent polls, seen a boost in fundraising, and earned more endorsements. But as Tuesday’s debate made clear, that rise has also come with new attacks from his opponents in both parties, including a pair of attack ads released by billionaire investor Tom Steyer.
The two Republicans and six Democrats sparred with each other – and, at times, the moderators – during the 90-minute event in Claremont, California.
In addition to Becerra and Steyer, the other candidates on stage were Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host Steve Hilton, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former US Rep. Katie Porter, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Tuesday’s event was one week before CNN hosts its debate in the governor’s race on May 5.
Becerra at center stage
Becerra entered as the candidate with the most momentum and the largest target on his back. Throughout the debate, he emphasized his past jobs as HHS secretary and California attorney general. But he also put aside a nice guy reputation with a few shots at his opponents.
As the debate turned to healthcare, the moderators asked Becerra how he would respond to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium subsidies. The former HHS secretary used the moment to criticize President Donald Trump and his endorsed candidate, Hilton.
“The first thing we have to do is stop Steve Hilton’s daddy,” Becerra said. “We need someone who’s going to fight Donald Trump, not agree with him.”
Hilton responded by saying Democrats “can’t do anything but blame Trump,” leading to a back-and-forth between the two candidates.
“Steve, would you oppose Donald Trump’s cuts?” Becerra said.
“The actual amount of money going into healthcare from the federal government is going up this year,” Hilton said.
“I think that’s a no,” Becerra said.
The former secretary also responded to Mahan, after the mayor said Becerra was “defending the status quo and just blaming Trump.”
“The only person who’s actually run a healthcare system, the largest system in the world, is me,” Becerra said. “I expanded healthcare beyond what we had ever seen in the country’s history, so if you want to talk about what works, ask somebody who actually did it.”
Mahan tries to make his mark
The San Jose mayor entered the race in January, later than much of the rest of the field, and has sought to define hi