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In a heated California gubernatorial debate Wednesday evening, Democratic candidates vying to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom offered surprisingly generous assessments of his administration’s handling of the homelessness crisis, drawing sharp criticism from their Republican counterparts on stage.
When asked to grade Newsom’s performance on addressing homelessness, none of the four Democratic candidates gave him below a “B-minus” – evaluations that Republican candidates quickly derided as disconnected from reality.
“My goodness, of course it’s an F,” said Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host. “It shames our state, the situation with homelessness. We have about 10% of the U.S. population, around 50% of the country’s homeless.”
The exchange highlighted a reluctance among Democratic candidates to criticize Newsom, who has yet to endorse any successor in the race, despite California’s worsening homelessness statistics during his tenure.
Former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter gave Newsom a “B” grade, saying, “I don’t think this has been an easy problem to solve, but I do give him a lot of credit for calling attention to the problem.” Billionaire-businessman Tom Steyer offered a slightly lower “B-minus” assessment.
Perhaps most striking was former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra’s evaluation, suggesting even that grade was too low. “I would say that the governor has made efforts. We’ve seen him come down to Los Angeles, actually go out and try to clean some of these streets. On effort, I would give him an A,” Becerra said.
These assessments come despite California’s homeless population growing substantially under Newsom’s leadership. According to the California State Senate Housing Committee, the state reported 161,400 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in 2024. That represents a 32% increase from 2019 when Newsom took office, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 108,400 homeless individuals in the state.
This growth has occurred despite massive financial investments. California has spent approximately $20 billion on homeless initiatives from 2019 to 2025, according to the California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank. The persistent rise in homelessness despite this funding has become a major political vulnerability for Democrats in the state.
Republican candidate Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, argued forcefully that the issue has nothing to do with insufficient funding. “It is an absolute dismal failure and anyone that says it’s not is fooling themselves — or trying to fool voters,” Bianco said during the debate.
Bianco further challenged the framing of the issue itself: “We are not dealing with homeless, so stop calling it homeless. It has nothing to do with homes. These people are suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness,” he added.
The homelessness crisis has become emblematic of broader concerns about California’s direction under Democratic leadership. In a high-profile debate last year on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis memorably highlighted San Francisco’s struggles by displaying what became known as the “poop map,” purporting to show over 270,000 reported instances of human feces found on the city’s streets.
The debate over homelessness reflects deeper divides in approaches to governance in California, with Republicans arguing for tougher enforcement and addressing mental health and addiction issues, while Democrats have focused more on housing affordability and social services.
California will hold its gubernatorial primary on June 2, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election on November 3, regardless of party affiliation. With homelessness consistently ranking among voters’ top concerns, the candidates’ divergent assessments of the Newsom administration’s record may prove crucial in determining who advances to the final contest.
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10 Comments
The homelessness crisis in California is certainly a pressing concern that deserves serious attention from the gubernatorial candidates. While the assessments of Newsom’s performance vary, I hope the candidates can move beyond partisan rhetoric and offer substantive, evidence-based proposals to tackle this multifaceted challenge.
Homelessness is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted solution. While it’s understandable for candidates to have differing views on Newsom’s record, I hope they can move beyond partisan rhetoric and offer concrete, evidence-based proposals to tackle this challenge.
The divergent views on Newsom’s record on homelessness highlight the political tensions surrounding this issue. I’m curious to see how the candidates plan to address the urban cleanliness concerns and provide tangible solutions to help those in need. A pragmatic, compassionate approach may be key.
The urban cleanliness concerns highlighted in this article are certainly a pressing issue for California. It will be interesting to see how the gubernatorial candidates propose to address the homelessness crisis, which seems to be a major factor in the state’s deteriorating conditions. A balanced, pragmatic approach may be needed.
The homelessness crisis in California is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach. I’m interested to see how the gubernatorial candidates plan to address this issue, whether through new policies, increased funding, or innovative collaborations with local communities and stakeholders.
Homelessness is a complex, deeply rooted issue that has plagued many urban areas, including California. I’m interested to see how the gubernatorial candidates plan to address the problem, whether through new policies, increased funding, or innovative approaches. A balanced, collaborative solution may be the way forward.
The debate over Newsom’s handling of the homelessness crisis highlights the political divides in California. While the Democratic candidates seem reluctant to criticize the outgoing governor, the Republican candidate is quick to assign a failing grade. I hope the candidates can move beyond partisan posturing and offer substantive, pragmatic solutions to this pressing issue.
It’s fascinating to see the California governor candidates navigate the homelessness crisis. While Democrats seem reluctant to criticize Newsom, the Republican candidate is quick to assign an ‘F’ grade. I’m curious to hear more nuanced perspectives on the challenges and potential solutions.
The homelessness issue in California is certainly a complex one without easy answers. I appreciate the candidates acknowledging the difficulty in finding solutions, even if their assessments of Newsom’s performance differ. Curious to see how the debate evolves as the election approaches.
The reluctance of Democratic candidates to criticize Newsom’s handling of the homelessness crisis is intriguing. I wonder if this is a strategic move to maintain party unity or a genuine belief that he has done a commendable job. Regardless, the issue deserves rigorous, fact-based analysis from all sides.