California Gubernatorial Candidates Debate, Spar on Immigration
The six leading candidates for California governor (Democrats Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, John Chiang and Delaine Eastin, Republicans John Cox and Travis Allen) —discussed housing, immigration, gas taxes and other issues at a debate last night. Chuck Todd from “Meet the Press” moderated the debate. The primary is in June. The Associated Press and Politico report on the debate.
Democrats pledged to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump and provide help to the homeless while Republicans said they would cut taxes and regulations and fight “sanctuary” policies on immigration.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law last year restricting when state and local law enforcement agencies can cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Immigration law “is federal law,” said John Cox, a Republican businessman from San Diego. “This is like George Wallace standing in front of a school house in Alabama and saying he’s not going to respect federal law.” Cox also invoked the specter of MS13 members living next store as an issue in the immigration debate.
Assemblymember Travis Allen, who blamed San Francisco’s “sanctuary” law for Kate Steinle’s tragic death, generally expressed similar views as John Cox on immigration, including his support for building a wall in the US/Mexico border region. Here is Allen on Fox expressing his views on California’s “sanctuary” law:
KJ