Housing, fires and insurance crisis dominate the latest debate for California governor

The Skirball Cultural Heart in downtown Los Angeles was the scene of the last televised debate before the June 2 primarieswhere Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, and Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Antonio Villaraigosa, sought to add votes in one of the closest races in recent decades.

California gubernatorial candidates staged a meeting marked by strong clashes over housing, homelessness, wildfires, insurance and immigration.

Housing and cost of living

The housing crisis in California was the most discussed topic of the night. The candidates agreed that the cost of living has become unsustainable, although they disagreed deeply about solutions.

Republican Steve Hilton criticized the state’s urban planning policies and stated that California stopped building affordable housing for working families: “California stopped building the starter homes and single-family homes that it once built so well. We have too many regulations and an ideology that believes that the only acceptable housing is to fill the suburbs with apartment buildings.”

Hilton also accused the state of imposing “hidden taxes” on construction and promised to reduce regulatory restrictions.

For his part, the sheriff Chad Bianco argued that the real problem is that “builders can no longer afford to build” due to excessive regulation.s, pointing directly to the California Environmental Quality Act.

In contrast, Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter directly linked the housing crisis to the increase in homelessness and shared a personal experience: “I’m worried that my teenage son will end up living on my couch because it is so impossible to buy a house in California.”

Porter defended support programs for down payments of just 5% and called for stopping real estate speculation.

The former Secretary of Health of the United States, Xavier Becerra proposed expanding assistance for first-time buyers and preventing investment funds from “displacing ordinary families.”

Meanwhile, Tom Steyer focused his speech on speeding up construction permits and closing “corporate loopholes” in real estate.

According to analysts, the real estate crisis in California is characterized by a severe shortage of supply and complex affordability, with prices hovering around all-time highs. The market faces stagnation in sales because high interest rates and the housing deficit have expelled a large part of the buyers.

Another of the most tense moments occurred when addressing the insurance market crisis in California, aggravated by the devastating fires of 2025, causing the withdrawal of large insurers from the state market, driven by increased risks. This has led to mass cancellation of policies and a drastic increase in premiums.

Becerra revealed that his own mother unexpectedly lost coverage and proposed temporarily freezing insurance ratesa notion that sparked immediate attacks from rivals.

For example Katie Porter rejected the proposal, saying, “We can’t afford to freeze rates. What we need is for insurers to get back into the market.”

Steyer defended incentives to reduce fire risks and strengthen housing, while Bianco warned, “The insurance companies are not going to come back if another Democrat is elected.”

Homelessness and public safety

According to journalistic data, California’s homeless crisis is one of the most serious in the United States, with nearly 186,000 people living on the streets or in shelterss, becoming a central issue in this debate that generated strong divisions.

Bianco maintained that homelessness is not mainly due to housing, but to addictions and mental illnesses: “Homelessness has never really been about housing. It’s about drugs, alcohol and mental health.”

He added that building shelters “does not solve the problem” and called for more treatment centers.

Porter and Steyer rejected that vision and advocated for preventive policies focused on affordable housing. and rental assistance.

According to Hilton, none of the measures California is currently implementing to address the homeless problem are working. The best option, he said, is to scrap previous policies and start from scratch.

Polarized campaign sealed

Democrats traded constant barbs as they tried to consolidate support in a divided field, especially after the collapse of Eric Swalwell’s campaign.

Hilton even mocked Matt Mahan during a response about housing: “It looks like he’s trying to remember his lines.”

According to recent SurveyUSA polls, Hilton slightly leads the race with 20% voting intention, followed by Steyer with 18%, while Becerra and Bianco remain competitive.

The debate came just a day after another televised showdown hosted by CNN, where the candidates sparred over immigration and the legacy of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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