Donya Rouzbehi
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne partnered with the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on civic engagement, to host the CBS California Gubernatorial Debate watch party Tuesday at Ludwick Skybridge.
About 12 students attended the event, which took place at Pomona College.
Candidates focused largely on affordability – across housing, groceries, gas, rent and daily expenses. The state’s high cost of living was present in almost every answer from the eight candidates.
Participants were the top candidates among a 60-candidate field. They qualified for the event after meeting ballot and polling criteria, with measurable support from the public.
The Democratic candidates included Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa, Tony Thurmond and Matt Mahan. The Republicans were Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. The debate was moderated by CBS News California reporter Julie Watts and Pomona College’s Professor of Politics Sara Sadhwani.
All eight candidates for governor took the stage as they reflected on the financial pressures California faces today. Held at Bridges Auditorium, the candidates gathered to answer the same question in their own different ways: Why is California so expensive and what would they do about it as the new governor?
At the debate watch here, Matthew Markey, a junior political science major and the Andrew Goodman student ambassador for the University, was host.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for fellow Leos to learn more about the candidates,” Markey said. “Especially for the governor’s race, which is maybe not as well known as the presidential race. It’s a great opportunity for people who don’t know a lot about the candidates to learn more.”
Each of the candidates addressed the elephant in the room in their own words, causing urgency and tension. The Democratic candidates argued that the state hasn’t built enough homes for years which increases rent and home prices beyond what many families can afford.
Mahan, a Democrat, dove into development reform and said that the solution is very simple: build more housing and speed up approvals. Villaraigosa focused more on middle-class development, warning that California has become a place where working families can’t afford.
The candidates split the blame for the crises between high taxes, policy failures and population growth. The Democratic candidates proposed more solutions by building more housing and increasing the state’s involvement in expanding supply to protect renters. The Republican candidates pointed to cut regulations and taxes, lower government spending and encourage private-sector housing development.
The proposed solutions ranged from expanding housing development to strengthening tenant protections while increasing state investment in an affordable way. The Republican candidates took a different approach by arguing that high taxes and government spending have made California less affordable, in general.
Magnolia Brown, a junior political science major, said it’s important to tune in to politics.
“It is so important in the Leo community, especially with everything that has been going on with ICE agents,” Brown said. “People need to hear this debate and lead by example. What happens in this (election) will determine California’s future, which will determine our school’s future.”
Candidates’ priorities varied. Becerra focused on housing and solutions for the systemic problems. He argued the affordability crisis in housing connected to supply, that the state has not built enough housing for the demand.
The eight candidates had limited speaking time so many of their answers were short and condensed. Instead of deep analysis into the affordability crisis, debate watchers got quick hits on the problems and abbreviated solutions.
Jorden Pfeiffer, a junior political science major, said these affordability issues are pertinent for current college students.
“Affordability is one of the main challenges that we are going to face once we leave college,” Pfeiffer said. “We’re going into the workforce to be able to provide for ourselves and be able to own our own homes. So this governor’s debate is really important in order to address those issues.”
Some gubernatorial candidates leaned into their own personal experiences, highlighting their years in public offices and efforts to address the housing crises and the unstable economy. Others seemed to separate themselves by arguing that California needs a break from business as usual politicians.
Emma Calderon, a junior biology major, said she appreciated the opportunity to engage with the important issues.
“I’m here because I want to learn more about politics and be more aware of what’s happening in my state,” Calderon said.
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
