8 Candidates Debate to Replace Newsom

Eight candidates vying to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom debated for 90 minutes Tuesday night at Pomona College in Claremont, California, in a forum marked by frequent interruptions and crosstalk that moderators struggled to control.

The event, hosted by CBS News affiliates and Asian Pacific American Public Affairs, featured six Democrats and two Republicans: former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. A recent CBS News-YouGov poll showed Hilton leading with 16 percent support among likely primary voters, followed by Steyer at 15 percent and Becerra at 13 percent, with 26 percent undecided.

Becerra, who has surged in polls since former Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race amid sexual assault allegations he denied, faced attacks from multiple rivals. Mahan accused him of mishandling COVID-19, mpox and unaccompanied migrant children at the border, saying Becerra "never met a crisis he couldn't...