Updated March 5, 2026 / CBS News California
What has the California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom done well, and what could be done differently? CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts asked each of the top-polling candidates running for California governor one question in a series of short interviews. Read on for each candidate’s answer about what Newsom and the Legislature got right and what they would do differently.
Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra, former California attorney general and former U.S. health secretary, said Newsom deserves credit for strengthening the state’s economy and supported California’s redistricting effort. He criticized the pace of action on problems like the high-speed rail project and the statewide housing crisis and said he would have moved more quickly on those issues.
Chad Bianco
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, said the only thing Newsom has done well is “acting like a Republican” in what he sees as a presidential bid. Bianco said he could not identify anything the Legislature has done right during his seven years as sheriff.
Steve Hilton
Public policy expert and Republican Steve Hilton said he most agrees with Newsom on limiting smartphone use in schools. Hilton emphasized rising housing costs as the top reason residents are leaving California and said he would make housing affordability a priority.
Matt Mahan
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a late entrant to the race, framed both his praise and his criticism of Newsom around homelessness. Mahan said the administration’s handling of homelessness is central to how he would evaluate and change state policy.
Katie Porter
Consumer protection attorney and law professor Katie Porter praised Newsom’s universal meals program that made school lunches free. Porter said she would focus on policies to bring down housing costs statewide.
Tom Steyer
Climate activist and philanthropist Tom Steyer applauded Newsom for what he described as skillful public mockery of former President Trump to expose his failures. Steyer also criticized aspects of how Newsom handled a recent budget surplus.
Eric Swalwell
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell called Newsom “a protector” for California against federal overreach and praised the governor’s role defending state interests. Swalwell said he would work to diversify California’s revenue sources.
Tony Thurmond
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond lauded Newsom as a creative thinker and credited his investments in public education. Thurmond said he would prioritize improving California’s insurance market and expanding affordable housing.
Antonio Villaraigosa
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he’s running to be a “proven problem solver.” He criticized Newsom’s prolonged school closures early in the COVID-19 pandemic and said Newsom and the Legislature got health care and child care right; Villaraigosa would focus on other operational improvements.
Butch Ware
Green Party candidate and UC professor Butch Ware criticized Newsom’s response to immigration raids and his handling of homelessness. Ware said he disagrees with Newsom’s social media strategy against the Trump administration, though he appreciated the pushback.
Betty Yee
Former State Controller Betty Yee praised Newsom’s visible leadership during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Yee said she would improve fiscal accountability in state government.
Leo Zacky
Business owner Leo Zacky, a Republican, said he’s running to bring “common sense solutions” to California. Zacky said nothing Newsom or the Legislature has done over the past seven years stands out to him; he specifically criticized boosting the minimum wage for fast-food workers.
Toni Atkins (dropped out)
Former State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins praised Newsom for confronting the Trump administration and supporting redistricting. She said she would prioritize health care if elected but announced on Sept. 29 that she was dropping out of the race, saying there was no viable path forward.
Ian Calderon (dropped out)
Business owner and former Assembly majority leader Ian Calderon praised Newsom’s housing efforts and the Legislature’s focus on online safety for children. Calderon later dropped out of the race on March 5.
Stephen J. Cloobeck (dropped out)
Business executive Stephen J. Cloobeck credited Newsom for being active in public communities. Cloobeck withdrew from the race and endorsed Eric Swalwell.
Series context
The “One Question” segments are part of an ongoing CBS News California Investigates accountability series that sat down with over a dozen gubernatorial candidates to press them on issue-specific topics that matter to voters. The brief “One Question” interviews reveal what each candidate thinks the current governor and Legislature have done right and what they would have done differently. Side-by-side, issue-focused segments in the broader series let viewers compare candidates on topics including redistricting (Prop 50), outreach across the aisle, principle versus politics, sanctuary state policies, health care for undocumented immigrants, transgender athletes in school sports, and more.
Notable impact
The series’ redistricting segment produced a viral Katie Porter clip and contributed to shifts in the governor’s race trajectory. CBS News California Investigates also moderated a recent gubernatorial education forum hosted by Asian Pacific American Public Affairs and Sacramento State University.
Watch and follow
The full accountability series and individual candidate interviews are available on the CBS News California Investigates YouTube playlist, which lets viewers watch the candidates side-by-side on the issues voters care about. Upcoming segments will cover crime and criminal justice reform, environmental laws’ impact on gas prices, homelessness, housing affordability, high-speed rail and other topics.