Comments
NICK'S PICK - To win the governorship of California candidates highlight their identity to gain trust and value. Voters judge the person more than policies. During campaigns identity helps the voter make decisions quickly. After all, the primary plan is to get elected, not to demonstrate a sound strategy for governance.
Further, to signal moral direction and to activate emotion, candidates also speak of noble aspirations. It really does not cost anything to do so. Costly is trying to regulate government realities. Consequently, we rarely see in debates candidates conveying a structure of governance that really works.
With all of this in mind, and trying to ensure a well-considered choice, I carefully reviewed the qualifications and viewpoints of the seven leading candidates for California governor appearing on the CNN debate on Tuesday, May, 5: The Republicans are Steve Hilton, former Fox News host, and UK government adviser; and Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff. The Democrats include Xavier Becerra, former California Attorney General, and former U.S. HHS Secretary; Tom Steyer, billionaire businessman; Katie Porter, former Congresswoman; Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose; and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Tony Thurman, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, failed to meet the network’s polling threshold.
Hilton, in my view, is a "shock jock,” an airtime personality who mocks opponents to build an audience. The Trump-endorsed candidate reacts negatively and focuses on complaints. His debate rhetoric lacks rounded temperament. While California’s institutional architecture makes a Trump‑style approach impossible, Trump’s strategic positioning will certainly be followed. It includes an anti-establishment attitude (he claims that Sacramento is broken). He criticizes unions and regulators, and he talks about reducing regulations and reforming energy policy. Why does he mock his opponents? It is an opportunity to stand out, to seize attention, and to try to dominate a field that is fragmented. His background tells of a man who has never run a government agency, managed a large public workforce, or oversee a budget. Hilton can mock opponents, but he cannot mock the realities of governing. In the debates he was constantly mocking and being strategically disruptive. COCKY
Bianco replicates a national "divisive" strategy. By mirroring Trump’s positions, he expects to lock down the MAGA wing, and create a clear identity in a crowded field. It is Trump’s symbolic power that he seeks, and he has shown it with his distrust of institutions and anti-bureaucratic sentiments. He seeks confrontations and dramatizations to appear as the lone fighter in the race, and as the man who can alone fix things. He referred to the chaotic homelessness program as a problem stemming from the homeless-industrial complex. Last year, during a special election in Riverside County, he ordered deputies to seize ballots from a drop-off location, in violation of election procedures, according to the Secretary of State. He claimed he was investigating alleged irregularities. He has publicly acknowledged that he signed up as an Oath Keeper because he believed it was a pro‑Constitution, pro‑law‑enforcement group, and said he was unaware of later extremist activities. In the debates he was combative but not reassuring. VIGILANTE
Becerra is increasingly regarded as the preferred candidate among donors, party insiders, and an expanding segment of Democratic voters, according to publicly reported polling and analysis. He is being perceived as the leading candidate, and there’s good reason for that. He has the strongest governing résumé, and he is the only major candidate to have led a federal cabinet department (HHS), served as California Attorney General, completed twelve terms in Congress, and managed large bureaucracies, demonstrating strong administrative qualifications. I do not believe that Californians want radical changes after their experience with Trump. Becerra is seen as a “safe” choice. I see him as the most sensible option. He can govern. And he can credibly deal with the strained state budget and the failed homeless policy. He will not make a spectacle of himself; he will make a very competent governor. In the debates he was authoritative and deeply credible. STEADY
Steyer pledges to tackle affordability by building one million homes in four years using state land and changes to the Surplus Lands Act. He also aims to reduce utility bills by 25% by challenging monopolies such as PG&E. Many voters are doubtful about his credibility as a leader against corporate power due to his status as a multibillionaire hedge-fund founder. He is accused of trying to "buy the governorship" after spending over $120 million on his campaign. Steyer has also been criticized for previous investments in controversial sectors, including private prisons, though he has since apologized and adjusted his stance. Despite his organized message, he did not dominate in the debates. AUSTERE
Porter has served three terms in Congress; however, this experience may not fully demonstrate her capacity to govern the state of California. She cites her achievements in advancing federal legislation to regulate health insurers and increase firefighter compensation, yet it remains to be seen whether these accomplishments sufficiently attest to her expertise in legislative processes. Several analysts observe that her tenure in Congress was primarily focused on consumer protection and economic matters. They contend that she possesses comparatively limited experience with key state concerns such as addressing violent crime, as well as navigating the complexities of water rights and infrastructure management. Her style is uncompromising and a polarizing factor. In the debates she appeared prepared but was overwhelmed by controversy. KNOWLEDGEABLE
Mahan started his political career about five years ago. He served on the San Jose City Council from 2021 to 2023 before becoming Mayor in 2023. However, some critics point out that he has yet to finish a full term in any of his roles. Opponents portray him as a candidate funded by tech billionaires, serving special interests over the working class. A late comer, he entered the race in January of this year. His experience is thin for one who seeks to govern California. He lacks a deep legislative record and a history of finished terms. He has built his reputation on what he calls "common sense" governance in San Jose. In the debates he was a low energy participant and not commanding. OVEREARNEST
Villaraigosa has positioned himself as a realist in the most recent debates, emphasizing his Los Angeles mayoral experience and that of Speaker of the Assembly. In sensitive segments, he supported the High-Speed Rail project and claimed that his LA Metro background uniquely qualifies him to manage large-scale construction efficiently. His public transit experience is unrivalled. His mayoral familiarity provides executive, crisis-management, and coalition-building skills relevant to statewide leadership. He raised some tension by repeatedly pressing Becerra on his record, but once again, he reinforced his identity as a bridge‑builder, especially for Latino, labor, and urban constituencies. EXPERIENCED
So, before us we have a steady and credible Becerra, Steyer’s high-price ad campaign, Hilton’s mockery, Bianco’s confrontations, Porter’s polarizing effect, Mahan’s thin resume, and Villaraigosa’s sudden surge. Your choice.
My choice is Becerra.
(Nick Patsaouras is an electrical engineer, civic leader, and a longtime public advocate. He ran for Mayor in 1993 with a focus on rebuilding L.A. through transportation after the 1992 civil unrest. He has served on major public boards, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Metro, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, helping guide infrastructure and planning policy in Los Angeles. He is the author of the book "The Making of Modern Los Angeles.")
