California Governor Jerry Brown and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari took part in the first and only debate of the election last night in Sacramento. Kashkari had challenged Governor Brown to 10 debates, but after last night’s testy battle, Brown made it clear that he would not participate in any additional debates.
Kashkari’s platform focuses on rebuilding California’s middle class, focusing on big issue bills, and improving education, especially for underserved populations. Brown challenged Kashkari’s platform as well as his candidacy, essentially saying the he has no chance of winning the election. Governor Brown also pointed to the progress made in California during his terms as Governor, focusing his argument on his contributions to the budget surplus.
What does last night’s debate say about the gubernatorial election? Which issues stood out for the candidates?
Guest:
John Myers, Senior Editor of the California Politics and Government desk at KQED. He moderated yesterday's debate between Gov. Jerry Brown and GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari