At the party’s annual convention, several prominent Democrats competing to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom offered sharply contrasting visions for tackling California’s mounting affordability crisis, rising housing costs, and public frustration over homelessness and public safety.

While opposition to the Trump administration drew loud applause throughout the gathering, the governor’s race revealed ideological and generational divides within the party.

Rep. Eric Swalwell emerged from the convention with the strongest showing in the party’s endorsement vote, securing the largest share of delegate support. However, no candidate reached the 60% threshold required to earn the official endorsement — a sign of how unsettled the race remains ahead of the June primary.

Swalwell framed the next governor’s role as both a defender against federal overreach and an advocate for lowering everyday costs.

“The next governor must protect Californians while also addressing affordability — from housing to healthcare to utilities,” he told delegates.

Former Rep. Katie Porter leaned into progressive economic proposals, calling for expanded childcare access, tuition-free public college and broader healthcare reforms. Businessman Tom Steyer also positioned himself on the left, supporting new taxes on the ultra-wealthy while casting himself as willing to challenge corporate influence in politics.

Meanwhile, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan struck a more centrist tone, urging Democrats to refocus on results-driven governance. He argued that despite record spending, many Californians feel their cost of living has worsened.

“We must deliver measurable improvements in housing, education and public safety,” Mahan said. “If we don’t show tangible results, voters will lose confidence.”

Mahan has quickly raised millions in campaign funds, including significant backing from technology-sector donors, signaling that moderate and business-aligned Democrats remain influential players in the race.

Other candidates, including former State Controller Betty Yee and former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, received smaller shares of delegate support. The wide distribution of votes highlighted the absence of a clear front-runner.

Beyond campaign speeches, many delegates voiced concern about California’s economic strain. The state’s median home price now far exceeds the national average, and utility and insurance costs continue to climb. Several attendees emphasized that while confronting federal policies remains important, voters are primarily focused on affordability.

“I want someone who can stand up to Washington and also stand up for working families here at home,” said one delegate attending the convention.

Labor leaders echoed similar concerns, urging candidates to prioritize wage growth and worker protections. Some argued that Democratic leadership must more directly address income inequality and the rising cost of care for families.

Despite internal differences, party leaders expressed optimism about broader electoral prospects, particularly efforts to regain congressional seats in upcoming federal elections.

Still, the convention made clear that while Democrats share a common opponent nationally, they remain divided over strategy, policy priorities and the path forward for the nation’s most populous state.

With months remaining before the primary, the contest for governor remains fluid — shaped as much by debates over California’s future as by national politics.

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California currently has a deficit of more than 2.5 million homes across our state – and every city is going to have to step up and do its part to close that gap.

That’s the key finding in the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s recently released housing plan, which sets a target for the number of homes we need to make sure that everyone in our state has an affordable, secure place to live.

Sadly, too many of our cities are still resisting the opportunity and need to address our housing crisis collectively. While a few California cities are acting in good faith by meeting or exceeding their state housing goals, some cities seem utterly disinterested in the problem. They have failed to build housing for decades and are willfully ignoring state laws designed to create more of the housing we need to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis.

In some instances anti-housing activists, primarily made up of wealthy homeowners, are abusing environmental laws to delay or completely block housing construction.

In  Berkeley, these groups used their past successful efforts to block student housing as a pretext to force the University of California to restrict enrollment of new students. The result: more than 3,000 students now face an uncertain future as the university scrambles to address the legal ramifications of the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) lawsuit.

The city of Woodside found an even more creative (though unsuccessful) way to distort environmental laws to block homes. When faced with the prospect of allowing duplexes, Woodside claimed that the entire town is a protected mountain lion habitat.

These efforts to block urgently needed housing have very little to do with environmental protection, and everything to do with preserving the status-quo: expensive, exclusionary cities with no pathways for working people to live near their jobs, schools, recreation and services.

Meanwhile, our working families continue to face ever-mounting challenges to their existence in our state. According to the Housing and Community Development’s report, the average renter wage of $25 is well below the $39 needed to pay for the average two-bedroom apartment. With 45% of Californians living in rentals, higher income communities that refuse to build more housing is a recipe for disaster.

Thankfully, the state is taking steps to make sure all cities are planning for – and building – the housing we need. While anti-housing cities may find middle-income and affordable housing distasteful, and decry any state oversight of their housing plans, these cities have made their own beds. Now they have to sleep in them.

On the flip side, cities that are doing their part are demonstrating the rewards of building more affordable housing. Recently, Sacramento became the first city in California to earn the state’s “Pro-Housing Designation” for its housing-friendly policies. That designation gives Sacramento an advantage  when competing for funds from the state for affordable housing, transportation and infrastructure, as well as federal tax credits for affordable housing projects.

Emeryville, where I serve on the City Council, has been called one of California’s “most YIMBY” (i.e., pro-housing) cities. We have made great progress with our below market rate housing program and are focused on building more deeply-affordable housing.

Safe and stable housing is the foundation of a healthy life. We recognize this and urge other cities in our region to do the same. Here in the East Bay, a 15-minute drive may easily pass through five cities. But many of them leave their housing responsibility on the doorsteps of pro-housing cities like Emeryville, forcing longer commutes and perpetuating inequitable and exclusionary housing practices.

We need to ensure that every city in California is doing its fair share. That requires state oversight – and  consequences – for  jurisdictions that block housing, along with  incentives to encourage cities to legalize more homes. In Emeryville, we prefer carrots. But we also realize that, for some cities that oppose housing, it will have to be the stick.

Courtney Welch | Contributed

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