Democratic candidates largely praised Gavin Newsom’s homelessness record during the California governor debate.
At California’s gubernatorial debate in San Francisco, Democratic candidates seeking to replace Gavin Newsom gave the outgoing governor passing grades on homelessness, despite California continuing to lead the nation in total homeless population.
When asked to assess Newsom’s handling of the crisis, former Rep. Katie Porter said she would give him a “B.”
“I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” Porter said, adding that she credited Newsom for recognizing housing as a root cause of the crisis.
Billionaire candidate Tom Steyer offered a similar review.
“So I’d give the governor a B-minus on this,” Steyer said.
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra defended Newsom’s effort and gave an even higher mark.
“On effort, I would give him an A,” Becerra said, citing Newsom’s visits to Los Angeles encampments and cleanup efforts.
Republican candidate Steve Hilton sharply rejected those grades.
“My goodness, of course it’s an F,” Hilton said. “It shames our state.”
The debate exchange highlighted a central tension in the race: Democratic contenders defended Newsom’s approach while inheriting a record many voters view as deeply troubled.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, California had more than 181,000 homeless residents in recent annual counts, by far the highest total in the nation.
The state also accounts for a disproportionate share of America’s unsheltered homeless population.
A state audit previously found California lacked consistent tracking over billions spent on homelessness programs.
Despite those numbers, none of the leading Democrats on stage gave Newsom below a B-minus.
With affordability and public safety dominating the campaign, the debate may leave voters deciding whether California needs continuity or a course correction.
