Newsom trades barbs with Dahle in California’s only 2022 gubernatorial debate
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, laughs with San Mateo County Supervisor Ron Nirenberg during the second day of the second U.S. gubernatorial debate on Oct. 7, 2019 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, laughs with San Mateo County Supervisor Ron Nirenberg during the second day of the second U.S. gubernatorial debate on Oct. 7, 2019 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
RICH PEDRONCELLI | AP
Dahlia Lithwick, a Democrat from San Francisco, was the only candidate on stage to back a single-payer health care system, saying it would “work better.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, was in a virtual duel with Republican congressman Devin Nunes on Friday night, trading barbs in the only U.S. gubernatorial debate.
Newsom and Nunes sparred on trade, housing, immigration, energy, the environment and the opioid crisis. They also differed on California’s record budget deficit, which has ballooned to $30 billion (or 6.8% of the state’s budget), with some estimates pegging the gap at $32 billion.
California’s record budget deficit has pushed the state into a recession, which is bad for California’s economy, Newsom said.
“The governor would do well to remind people of the $30 billion that we had over nine years ago,” Newsom said. “In California, you have to cut, you have to prioritize. We need to get out of the red.”
In the past, the state was cutting like crazy, he said. But it’s time to do more of what’s good for the economy and better protect public safety.
“We’re going to come back,” Newsom said. “But you can’t have a $30 billion
