Part 1 of “Decision 2018: The Race for Governor” debate hosted by Silicon Valley Community Foundation and NBC Bay Area focuses on issues and topics surrounding the Bay Area.
Six candidates jockeying to become the next governor of California took the stage in San Jose Tuesday night to participate in a debate less than one month before the June primary.
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation and NBC Bay Area hosted the "Decision 2018: The Race for Governor" debate, moderated by Chuck Todd, NBC News' Political Director and Moderator of "Meet the Press."
The six candidates who participated in the debate were Travis Allen (R), John Chiang (D), John Cox (R), Delaine Eastin (D), Gavin Newsom (D) and Antonio Villaraigosa (D).
The debate focused on a myriad of issues impacting Californians, including housing, transportation, the environment, education, and issues affecting children. The first 30 minutes focused exclusively on issues facing Northern California, followed by an hour of discussion on issues facing the whole state.
Local
The debate began with the topic of homelessness, the state's transportation and gas tax, the economy and education. Then the candidates dived into immigration.
Immigration
As expected, immigration was a by far the hottest-button issue between the liberals and conservatives on opposite sides:
Eastin: “Central Americans fleeing violence should be welcomed into the border - we have all descended from immigrants.”
Allen, who brought up the Kate Steinle killing to talk about tighter immigration laws: “We must secure our borders; we must end sanctuary cities.”
Newsom: “We celebrate diversity - we are an asylum state. That’s what makes California great.”
Villaraigosa, on caravan immigrants who’re stuck at the border: “If they’re fleeing violence they should be able to seek asylum.”
Cox: “We have wonderful legal immigrants - the issue is illegal immigration - people who’re cutting in line."
Housing, homelessness
On the issue of homelessness, the candidates were in agreement that it needed to be addressed aggressively.
Chiang: “I will bring back redevelopment agencies to create more housing.”
Newsom: “I will create a cabinet to look into the homelessness issue.”
Villaraigosa: “We must end homelessness - we need housing for the homeless.”
Eastin: “The next government should call for an emergency declaration - we’ve to get women and children off the streets.”
Allen: “This is unacceptable - we must enforce the laws.”
Transportation, gas tax
The subject of California's gas tax to support the state's transportation infrastructure and repair its roads was a somewhat contentious one:
Eastin: “We need a gas tax. Our infrastructure is in need of repair.”
Cox: “We don’t need a gas tax."
Villaraigosa: “We haven’t passed a gas tax in this state in 25 years - our bridges and highways need repairs..I support the gas tax.”
Newsom: “We need to extend that gas tax.”
Allen: “California does not need a high-speed rail. If you want to go anywhere in California, you can take Southwest Airlines.”
Education
On education, the candidates agreed on bolstering funds for schools:
Chiang: “We’ve got to invest in early education - in entrepreneurship.”
Eastin, a former state superintendent of public instruction: “We’ve got to invest in education - there’s a lot of work left to be done.”
President Trump
Villaraigosa: “Talking and tweeting about Trump is not going to make our health care better, our streets safer.”
Eastin: “The president of the United States leaves me jaw-dropping all the time.”
Cox: "I didn't vote for Donald Trump."
Party: Democrat
nEducation: Bachelor's degree in Finance, University of South Florida and a degree in Law, Georgetown University
nWebsite: JohnChiang.com
nBackground: Chiang has served as State Treasurer since 2015. Prior to that, he was State Controller from 2007 to 2015. He also served on the State Board of Equalization from 1998 to 2006.
nOn the issues: Read his positions on the issues here, including: affordable housing and homelessness, sexual harassment and assault, education, and more.
Party: Republican
nEducation: Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago and a degree in Law, ITT/Chicago Kent School of Law
nWebsite: JohnCoxForGovernor.com
nBackground: Cox is the Chairman of the Give Voters a Voice Gas Tax Repeal effort. He is also a businessman, attorney and CPA. In the past he has served on Jack Kemp's national steering committee and as Newt Gingrich's California Finance Chair.
nOn the issues: Read his positions on the issues here, including: ending sanctuary cities, the Second Amendment, defending Prop. 13, and repealing the gas tax increase.
Party: Democrat
nEducation: Bachelor's degree in Political Science, UC Davis and a Master's degree in Political Science, UC Santa Barbara
nWebsite: DelaineForGovernor.com
nBackground: Eastin is the former State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1995-2003). Prior to that, she served eight years in the State Assembly and six years on the Union City City Council. Since leaving office she has participated on numerous boards related to education, youth and women's rights.
nOn the issues: Read her positions on the issues here, including: climate change and environmental justice, criminal justice and prison reform, economy and jobs, education, gun violence prevention, housing and rent control, healthcare for all, immigration, infrastructure and transportation, LGBTQ rights, sexual harassment, and women's rights.
Party: Democrat
nEducation: Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Santa Clara University
nWebsite: GavinNewsom.com
nBackground: Newsom has served as Lieutenant Governor of California since 2011. Prior to that, he was Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010, and a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1998-2004.
nOn the issues: Read his positions on issues here, including: Defending immigrant communities, fighting for women's empowerment, supporting the #MeToo movement and women's workplace rights, supporting the LGBT community, reforming the criminal justice system, advocating for gun safety, meeting the needs of veterans and military families, expanding access to mental health treatment, and more.
Party: Democrat
nEducation: Bachelor's degree in History, UCLA and a degree in Law, People's College of Law
nWebsite:AntonioForCalifornia.com
nBackground: Villaraigosa served as Mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013. Prior to that, he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2003 and served as a State Assembly Member from 1994-2000 and the Democratic Leader of the Assembly for two of those years (1996-1998).
nOn the issues: Read his positions on the issues here, including: economic prosperity and equality, building affordable housing, equality in education, protecting dreamers and immigrants, defending affordable healthcare, transportation for the 21st century, and more.
To join the conversation online about the debate, use #CAGovDebate on Twitter, and follow @nbcbayarea and @siliconvalleycf.
