Governor's race: Sparks fly as San Jose mayor fends off rivals from left and right in first debate

"The first major televised debate among leading candidates for California governor Tuesday saw the race's newest entrant San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan draw fire from both ends of the political spectrum. For most of the two-hour debate aired on KTVU in the Bay Area and KTTV in Los Angeles featuring a half dozen Democrats and one Republican, the candidates stuck to their campaign talking points with little acknowledgement of their rivals."

"Steve Hilton, the Republican in the debate, said he was amazed that Mahan, who has often criticized current Gov. Gavin Newsom, gave him credit in recent remarks for his effort in dealing with homelessness. The mayor noted in response that Hilton had visited him in San Jose last month to see what's working and said, I don't know what changed in the last week, but it seems (to be) the fact that I jumped into this race. Frankly, that's exactly what's wrong with our politics."

"Right now the big tech CEOs are terrified about the idea of paying their fair share. Right now they're supporting Matt, that's where they are, Steyer said. Who have I got? I've got the nurses, I've got the bus drivers, I've got the cafeteria workers, I've got the custodians. Mahan responded that he supports closing tax loopholes on the wealthy but that the proposed wealth tax would hurt the state and said our politics has been oversimplified by populists on both sides"

A televised California gubernatorial debate featured half a dozen Democrats and one Republican and aired on KTVU and KTTV. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan drew criticism from both political extremes and was singled out by rivals onstage. Mahan acknowledged crediting Governor Gavin Newsom for homelessness efforts and noted a recent visit by Republican candidate Steve Hilton to San Jose. Billionaire Tom Steyer accused big tech leaders of supporting Mahan while asserting labor support for himself. Mahan defended closing wealthy tax loopholes but opposed a proposed wealth tax as harmful to the state, saying politics has been oversimplified by populists.

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