2026 Elections

The debate was a bit late for me to stay up and watch the whole thing.

Taking the stage for Republicans are conservative commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Representing the Democrats are billionaire activist Tom Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

Coverage at The Hill

They had five “takeaways”, three of which were irrelevant.  The other two?

Democrats on the debate stage positioned themselves in opposition to Trump (no surprise there).

Steyer’s billionaire status came under scrutiny on the debate stage.  (I think that’s a good thing.)

Coverage at the NYT

behind the paywall, maybe someone can share a gift link?

bit thanks to LifeInTheBonusRound for the gift link!

Coverage at The Guardian

They were asked to grade Newsom’s handling of the homelessness crisis.  (seems like a bullshit question)

At least some of their coverage was somewhat useful.

While sharp contrasts emerged over how to address some of the state’s biggest anxieties – from the high cost of living and housing affordability, to homelessness and the looming threat of artificial intelligence – the evening probably did little to settle the race with less than two weeks before ballots begin arriving in voters’ mailboxes.

They weren’t all asked the same questions – looks like a “gotcha” question for each of them.

During the hour-long exchange, the candidates were pressed on some of the major issues facing their campaigns. Porter addressed a contentious exchange, captured on video, with a staffer, acknowledging that it was “not the right way to treat someone”. “I work hard with my team to deliver for Californians,” she said.

Mahan defended his tech ties and his record, arguing that as mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley he would bring a unique understanding of the promise and peril of artificial intelligence to regulatory debates. He vowed to be an independent voice in Sacramento, playing up his readiness to “take on the establishment within my own party”.

Becerra was asked whether he should have done more as chair of the Democratic caucus to address “rumors” about Swalwell’s behavior. “Rumors are not facts,” he said. He applauded the women who came forward and shared their stories. “Today Eric Swalwell was facing accountability,” he said. Swalwell, who resigned from Congress last week, has vigorously denied the assault allegations.

Former Fox News host and political strategist Steve Hilton has received Donald Trump’s endorsement.
View image in fullscreen
Former Fox News host and political strategist Steve Hilton has received Donald Trump’s endorsement. Photograph: Fred Greaves/Reuters
Bianco, questioned about his recent decision to seize more than half a million ballots cast in a November special election from county election officials, insisted the inquiry was a “very, very basic, normal investigation”. Since the state supreme court intervened to halt his investigation, Bianco claimed: “We’re never going to know if our elections are secure.”

Hilton, meanwhile, insisted Trump’s endorsement was a strength, even though nearly two-thirds of Californians disapprove of the president. “It will benefit every Californian to have a governor who is a partner on these issues with the president and his team,” he contended.

Coverage at CNN

Interesting exchange during the gotcha question for Katie Porter:

On Wednesday night, she looked to regain her footing, reiterating her regret over the incident and going on the offensive against Steyer and Becerra.

“I apologized that day to that staffer four years ago and I took responsibility then and I’ve taken responsibility since, acknowledging that it is not the right way to treat someone,” she said. “And that is a big contrast to what we’ve seen other candidates do when they’ve been called out for misconduct.”

As for Becerra, she accused him of having “lovely plans” but being light on details and failing to propose anything that challenges the “status quo.”

“The how, the why, the how much — it’s all missing,” she said.

Becerra shot back, saying it was “very rich to hear from someone who’s never had to actually run a government.”

Coverage at KRON4 (they appear to have hosted the debate)

You’ll find several quotes and clips there.

The Republican sheriff Bianco who is running said: “homeless isn’t about homes”.
Okay, then!

He seems nice.

Katie Porter

I am not a fan of Katie Porter, but I am pretty sure that no male candidate EVER has snapped at a staffer,
so I totally get why they hammer away at this with her.  It can’t be her gender!

I think the interview was a more fair question.

Xavier Becerra

Seems like this is a swipe at Steyer.  I do appreciate the “training wheels” reference.

Becerra Social Media

A tremendous honor to earn the endorsement of the California Latino Legislative Caucus ahead of tonight's debate.Eager to work alongside these leaders to ensure Latino families across our state have a real shot at the California Dream!

— Xavier Becerra (@xavierbecerra.bsky.social) 2026-04-23T00:00:15.516Z

I knew Becerra was climbing, but  didn’t realize he is ahead in the polls!

Each new poll tells the same story — this movement is growing.California, I'm grateful, and I’m ready to lead as your governor.Join us: XavierBecerra2026.com

— Xavier Becerra (@xavierbecerra.bsky.social) 2026-04-21T20:12:39.977Z

Has anyone watched the debate yet?

Hopefully there were some standout moments to share?

California Debate and MorePost + Comments (223)

Weaker and Weaker Every Day

With that title, you might think I’m talking about the orange guy. Right?

Sadly, the lower his ratings get, the higher the chance that he will do something even more awful.  So while I continue to believe that his terrible ratings are making Republicans weaker every day, T gets more dangerous.

But you know who is getting weaker and weaker every day?  Pastor Johnson.   Yet another floor vote discharge petition for for the bill to protect TPS status for Haitians passes with 218 votes.  Four Republican votes and all the rest were Democrats.  Republican votes: Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lawler and Don Bacon.

I am pretty sure the only reason Pastor Johnson still holds his position as Speaker is that there is no one else on the Republican side willing to debase themselves quite so publicly day after day after day.

I love this so much – no one deserves this virtual beatdown more than Lindsey Graham

“Lindsey Graham spent the weekend at the most magical place on Earth: Disney World. The South Carolina Republican was dining at the park and wandering around with a bubble wand, according to photos published Monday by TMZ. While Graham lived out his fairy-tale fantasies in the Magic Kingdom, thousands of travelers across the country were subjected to nightmarishly long lines at major airports, and the government still remains in partial shutdown.”   (Rolling Stone)

Look who’s back from hiking in the Appalachians

“The one and only Mark Sanford said Monday that he would seek the Republican nomination to once again represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, a surprise announcement he made just hours before candidate filing closed.

But while Sanford, whose 2009 sex scandal briefly made him the world’s most famous hiker, once again attracted intense attention on Monday, it was not for his positions on fiscal policy.

South Carolinians remember exactly who he is, said state Rep. Mark Smith, one of 10 other Republicans running in the June 9 primary. “A governor who went missing. A politician who turned his back on President Trump. A person who espouses term limits and runs again and again.”   (The Downballot)

A perfect storm in Texas

“Three political winds are a-blowin’ in the Lone Star State. Any one of them alone might knock the election needle to the Democrats’ side. But all three together? It’s now quite a bit more likely that 2026 will be the year a Democrat finally wins state-wide in Texas.

So what is it about this year that gives me hope that this time around will be different? A series of self-owns by the GOP and Trump has created quite the potent brew and a unique opportunity for an economic populist like Talarico.

Today, let’s track these three political storms and how they might come together in November.”    (The Status Kuo)

What are the three?  1) John Cornyn is trailing Ken Paxton, and the runoff isn’t until the end of May, giving plenty of time for them to attack one another while James Talarico the chance to make some headway.  2) TACO – fucking coward that he is – hasn’t endorsed either one.  At some point, which we may have already reached, even if he does endorse it will likely be too little, too late.  3) Support for the GOP by Latinos is collapsing.

Trump has lost the men.  Wait, what??? 

The orange guy is 7 points down with men and sinking like a stone.

“It’s finally happened: Trump has lost the men. And it’s by a lot.

An aggregate of Marist and Quinnipiac polling by CNN’s Harry Enten shows male voters abandoning Trump in droves. This is terrible news for Trump because he owes his election to those male voters. They picked him over Kamala Harris by 13 points in 2024.”  (The Status Kuo)

Open thread.

This and That in the NewsPost + Comments (123)