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\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My goodness, of course it’s an F,” Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It shames our state, the situation with homelessness. We have about 10% of the U.S. population, around 50% of the country’s homeless.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman-turned candidate, put Newsom\u2019s performance in the same ballpark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“So, I’d give the governor a B-minus on this,” Steyer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s “effort.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
California reported 161,400 people had experienced homelessness on any given night in 2024, according to the California State Senate Housing Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The numbers are higher than when Newsom took office in January 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development put California\u2019s homeless population at 108,400 \u2014 32% less than levels in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The persistently high rates have thwarted billions in funding to bring the numbers down. California has spent roughly $20 billion on homeless initiatives from 2019 to 2025, according to the California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 2023 debate with Newsom on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis illustrated the acuteness of the homelessness problem by holding up a map of San Francisco, detailing over 270,000 reported instances of feces found on the streets of the city, which was dubbed the “poop map” on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Republican candidate Chad Bianco, Riverside County’s sheriff, it\u2019s clear the problem has nothing to do with money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It is an absolute dismal failure, and anyone that says it’s not is fooling themselves \u2014 or trying to fool voters,” Bianco said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are not dealing with homeless, so stop calling it homeless. It has nothing to do with homes. These people are suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
California will hold its gubernatorial primary June 2. The top two candidates will advance to the general election Nov. 3, according to the California Secretary of State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n