One Question | Meet the top candidates for California governor

Julie Watts interviewed every candidate for California governor ahead of next year's election. CBS News California Investigates We asked the candidates for California governor: What has Newsom and the Legislature done well, and what would they do differently? By Julie Watts, Julie Watts CBS California Investigative Correspondent Julie Watts is a national-award-winning investigative correspondent for CBS News, covering California. Her investigations, Capitol accountability reports, and solutions-oriented journalism air weekly on CBS stations across California. Read Full Bio Julie Watts, Richard Ramos Richard Ramos Web Producer, CBS Sacramento Richard Ramos is a web producer for CBS Sacramento who was born and raised in Sacramento. He graduated with a BA in Journalism from CSUS. Read Full Bio Richard Ramos Updated on: February 19, 2026 / 11:17 PM EST / CBS News California Add CBS News on Google California gvernor's race 2026 | Beyond the viral interview by CBS News Sacramento on YouTube What has the California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom done well, and what could be done differently?CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts asked each of the candidates running for California governor.For this series, Watts interviewed more than a dozen gubernatorial candidates, pressing them on more than a several issues that matter to voters.Read on to see what each candidate thinks Newsom has done right and to learn what they'd do differently. Xavier Becerra Watch Becerra's response here. Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general who served as Health and Human Services secretary in the Biden administration, is another Democrat looking to replace Gov. Newsom in 2026. Becerra said Newsom deserves more credit for strengthening the state's economy and explained why California's redistricting effort is necessary. On what he'd do differently, Becerra said he would have acted more quickly than Newsom on addressing issues like with California's high-speed rail project and the statewide housing crisis. Watch Becerra's response here. Chad Bianco Watch Bianco's response here. Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County is one of the Republicans running for California governor in 2026. Bianco said the only thing he believes Newsom has done well is "acting like a Republican" in what he says is the governor's bid for the White House. Bianco added that he couldn't think of a single thing the state Legislature has done right during his seven years as sheriff. Watch Bianco's response here.Ian Calderon Watch Calderon's response here. Ian Calderon, a business owner and former state Assembly majority leader, is running as a Democrat in California's 2026 gubernatorial race. Calderon praised Newsom for his efforts to address California's housing crisis and the legislature for focusing on addressing online safety for children. Calderon said he does believe the State of California has "lost the plot," meaning that state leaders should focus more on California issues rather than what's going on in Washington, D.C. Watch Calderon's response here. Steve Hilton Watch Hilton's response here. Public policy expert Steve Hilton is one of the Republicans running for California governor. Hilton said the thing he most agrees with Newsom on is limiting smartphone use in schools. If elected, Hilton said he would work to improve California's rising housing costs, which he said he believes is the top reason why residents are leaving the state. Watch Hilton's response here. Katie Porter Watch Porter's response here. Consumer protection attorney and law professor Katie Porter is among the long list of Democrats running to replace Gov. Newsom next year. Porter praised Newsom for making school lunches free through the governor's universal meals program. Porter said, if she were governor, she would work to bring down housing costs statewide. Watch Porter's response here.Tom Steyer Watch Steyer's response here. Democrat Tom Steyer, a climate activist and philanthropist, was one of the later additions to the candidate pool in California's 2026 gubernatorial race. Steyer praised Gov. Newsom for what he describes as "masterfully" mocking the president in their public exchanges to "show the insanity of Donald Trump." Steyer also offered some criticism directed at how the governor handled a recent budget surplus. Watch Steyer's response here.Eric Swalwell Watch Swalwell's response here. Democratic candidate Eric Swalwell's jump into the governor's race followed the bowing out of fellow Democratic candidate Stephen Cloobeck. The U.S. congressman and former prosecutor called Gov. Gavin Newsom "a protector" that Californians are lucky to have, particularly against the federal government. On the Legislature, Swalwell said a goal of his would be to diversify where California gets its revenue. Watch Swalwell's response here. Tony Thurmond Watch Thurmond's response here. California's Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he is running for governor because "California is at a critical inflection point" that could lead to prosp