Seven Candidates Square Off in CNN Governor's Debate as Democrats Face a Split-Vote Problem

Seven candidates vying for California's governor's seat debated Tuesday night in a CNN-moderated forum, with one of the night's sharpest exchanges centering on Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and his department's ongoing Proposition 50 ballot investigation.

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra came out swinging at Bianco directly, accusing him of breaking the law. "The sheriff is supposed to enforce the law," Becerra said. "In this case, Sheriff Bianco violated the law. He didn't follow the chain of custody process. He violated the law as the sheriff."

Bianco pushed back, directing his response at current Attorney General Rob Bonta. "There is absolutely nothing we did that was illegal," Bianco said. "The real issue here is the Attorney General just doesn't want them counted. The issue at stake in the Supreme Court is whether he has the authority to order me not to do an investigation. That's all this is."

The debate featured two Republicans, Bianco and Trump-backed conservative commentator Steve Hilton, alongside five Democrats: former Representative Katie Porter, Becerra, billionaire investor Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The race for California's governor's mansion is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested of the midterm cycle, and the state's jungle primary format adds a wrinkle for Democrats. Unlike a traditional primary, all candidates, regardless of party, compete on the same ballot, with only the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. With no clear Democratic frontrunner following former Representative Eric Swalwell's exit last month amid sexual assault allegations, five candidates could split their party's vote so evenly that both Republicans advance instead. It's an unlikely scenario, but a possible one, and it would all but guarantee a Republican governor in a state that hasn't elected one since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011.

The June 2nd primary is approaching, with county voters expected to receive their ballots in the mail soon.