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None of the Democratic candidates running to replace outgoing California Governor Gavin Newsom gave him below a B-minus grade on combating homelessness, a moment that Republicans sharing the debate stage on Wednesday evening called a laughable evaluation of the state’s problem.
“My goodness, of course it’s an F,” Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, said.
“It shames our state, the situation with homelessness. We have about 10% of the U.S. population, around 50% of the country’s homeless.”
The moment forced the four Democratic candidates to weigh in on efforts to unwind a crisis that has only worsened in recent years despite billions in funding. It also highlighted a reluctance among Democrats to critique Newsom, who has yet to make an endorsement in the race.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom pictured alongside a homeless encampment (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, said.
“I don’t think this has been an easy problem to solve, but I do give him a lot of credit for calling attention to the problem.”
Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman-turned candidate, put Newsom’s performance in the same ballpark.
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“So, I’d give the governor a B-minus on this,” Steyer said.
But one other Democrat, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, made the case that the grade was too low, citing Newsom’s “effort.”
“I would say that the governor has made efforts. We’ve seen him come down to Los Angeles, actually go out and try to clean some of these streets. On effort, I would give him an A,” Becerra said.
Matt Mahan,…
