Highlights from the CBS California Governor's Debate, where candidates squared off on gas prices, housing and more

During questioning about California's insurance crisis, Porter and Bianco were involved in one of the first sparring sessions of the evening.

Porter called California's FAIR Plan — coverage available to residents in the state who are unable to find policies with other insurers — a "huge financial liability." 

Bianco interrupted and called the plan "single-payer."

"Excuse me," Porter replied. "I'm speaking."

Moderator Julie Watts then turned to Bianco, who called the FAIR Plan a "failed environmental policy" that forced insurance companies to flee the state.

Porter said the state should "insure the insurers" to help bring the companies back to California. 

"There are ways that we can put California state dollars at play to bring down the cost of reinsurance, which would help more people come back into this market and write more affordable policies," she said.

Tom Steyer told moderator Julie Watts he believed that California's high gas prices should be blamed on President Trump and the war with Iran.

"That war has driven up prices for everybody in California… and the cost to the oil companies has not gone up a penny," Steyer said.

In a previous interview with CBS News California, Steyer said California should outsource all of its oil refining to other states or countries. Watts asked Steyer to expand on that point.

"What I said was that we should have the ability to outsource everything because we are under the thumb of the oil companies who are jacking up prices," Steyer responded when asked to clarify.

He added that outsourcing would be necessary "if we're going to get held up by the few refineries left in California."

Watts noted that oil companies have pushed back against claims of price gouging.

Becerra's promise to temporarily freeze insurance rates for homeowners was questioned by CBS News California Investigates Correspondent Julie Watts, who said the plan was unconstitutional under a ruling from the California Supreme Court.

"I am calling for a freeze. I am calling for an opportunity to sit everybody down," Becerra said, adding that he'd call for an investigation into insurance companies if they didn't cooperate.

"Why, after so many decades of paying that insurance company — premium after premium after premium, for month after month, year after year — can they just all of a sudden cancel you and say goodbye?" Becerra said of insurance policies. 

"For me as governor, that's not good enough."

A Pomona College student and U.S. Marine Corps officer candidate asked the gubernatorial hopefuls how they'd lower education costs in the state and develop a more stable job market for recent graduates who struggle to find work.

Antonio Villaraigosa called tuition at the state's top colleges and universities, including the University of Southern California and Stanford University, "unacceptable." He said his record working with the Los Angeles Unified School District during his tenure as mayor of Los Angeles reflects what how he'd approach education as governor.

Thurmond, the state's superintendent of public instruction, said he'd push for "Pay it Forward" legislation that would defer tuition payments until students graduate and find work.

"As governor, I will implement this program so that we help to reduce the debt that California students experience," he said. "So, they can put that money towards buying a home or launching a business."

Katie Porter (D) suggests two years of free tuition at public higher education systems in the State, UCs and CSUs.

Becerra — who noted he worked on the Affordable Care Act when he served as California attorney general — said the first thing he would do in order to help protect California against future cuts to healthcare funding is "stop Donald Trump."

"Had Trump allowed the premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to continue forward, millions of Californians would be able to afford their healthcare insurance," Becerra said.

He then took a shot at Republican candidate Steve Hilton, referring to the president as Hilton's "daddy."

"We need someone who is going to fight Donald Trump, not agree with him," Becerra said.

Hilton offered a sharp response to Becerra: "I think what you just saw there is actually what's wrong with our politics in California."

Mahan shared a similar sentiment to Becerra on healthcare, calling Mr. Trump's tax cuts "cruel."

Bianco offered a different perspective, arguing that Californians shouldn't worry about what the federal government is doing.

"California is the fourth-largest economy in the world," Bianco said. "What do we care about a cut to medical?"

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan renewed a promise to suspend the gas tax in California as prices continue to skyrocket amid the war in Iran. 

"It is the most regressive tax in California," Mahan said. "Working people, rural people are spending three times as much maintaining our roads as wealthy EV owners."

Meanwhile, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said cutting the gas tax would upend the state's budget for infrastructure projects. He said he wants "everyone who is sitting here to drive on the roads, cross our bridges, make sure transit is working."

"You have to fund it [all] somehow," he added. 

Becerra said he'd instead focus on building homes and lowering prescription drug prices.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said homeownership was "the American Dream," and said he'd work to provide down-payment assistance grants for those looking to purchase a home.

"We will build two million housing units using surplus property that school districts have in every single county in this state," Thurmond said. "And we will build two-point-three million units by the year 2030."

Cutting red tape and regulations for housing construction remained a key talking point for billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer.

"We need to work to shorten and reduce the cost of permitting," he said. "We need to drop the cost of construction."

Antonio Villaraigosa suggested a first-time buyer assistance program, offering a $25 billion initiative, at no cost to the taxpayer, that will help them get into their first house.   

Katie Porter said that to meet the housing crisis, California has to build faster. "California has permitting delays, a lack of labor...we need to innovate in housing to bring costs down."     

CBS LA anchor Pat Harvey opened Tuesday's debate by asking candidates what they'd do to restore the "California Dream" as prices soar and residents struggle to afford the rising cost of living.

Republican Steve Hilton vowed to make the state "Califordable" by cutting utilities and making home-buying accessible to young people, though he didn't elaborate on specific policies.

Fellow Republican Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, responded by saying the state legislature's progressive agenda is "destroying California." He said Democrats in the statehouse —  where the party holds a supermajority — would have to work with him to carry out the mandate of voters if he's elected.

"It's not how I'm going to respond to them, it's how they're going to respond to me," Bianco said.

A new CBS News poll released Monday shows the California governor's race remains a tight contest ahead of the June 2 primary election. 

Republican Steve Hilton leads among likely voters with 16% support. He maintains a narrow cushion over Democrats Tom Steyer (15%) and Xavier Becerra (13%), with Republican Chad Bianco the choice for 10% of likely voters polled. Other candidates making their case on Tuesday include Democrats Katie Porter (9%), Matt Mahan (4%), Antonio Villaraigosa (4%) and Tony Thurmond (1%). A significant number of likely voters polled — 26% —  say they're still undecided. 

The CBS News poll also provides insight into what voters are looking for in the gubernatorial hopefuls. Many voters say the state's cost of living has become unmanageable, with the so-called "California Dream" feeling out of reach. Democrats polled largely are looking for candidates aligned with current state policies and opposed to those of President Trump. Republicans largely prioritize change and have a negative view of the state, with 76% saying the state's economy is in bad condition.

Read more in the CBS News poll on the California governor's primary.

CBS News California launched an interactive tool to help voters navigate this year's gubernatorial race. The California Governor's Race Candidate Guide, which is meant to complement the debate, compiled more than 20 hours of interviews with top-polling candidates to give voters the opportunity to compare each candidate's responses side-by-side on the issues that matter most to them.

The guide features responses from the eight remaining candidates with active campaigns on more than a dozen issues, including homelessness; housing affordability; gas prices and environmental policy; immigration; healthcare for undocumented immigrants; crime and public safety funding; and California's ongoing insurance crisis.

Throughout the debate broadcast, moderators will direct viewers to the guide to allow them to further explore the issues at their own pace.

The field of Democratic candidates in the governor's race narrowed in recent weeks, with former state Controller Betty Yee and former Rep. Eric Swalwell ending their campaigns.

Swalwell's departure followed sexual assault allegations made against him, which he has denied. In addition to ending his gubernatorial bid, Swalwell has also resigned from his Bay Area congressional seat.

Yee suspended her campaign after acknowledging she didn't see a viable path forward in the race, citing low funding and recent polling.

Tuesday's debate marks a pivotal moment for the remaining Democrats in the race to distinguish themselves in a crowded field.