SAN FRANCISCO — California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra faced attacks from rival candidates during a 90-minute CBS debate held Thursday at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco's Financial District. The debate came hours after Dana Williamson, Becerra's former campaign manager, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

According to court filings, the charges alleged that Williamson and Becerra's former top advisor illegally siphoned $225,000 from Becerra's campaign accounts. Political rivals said Becerra, who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and as California's attorney general, should have noticed where his campaign funds were going. He said federal prosecutors never accused him of involvement and that no candidate for governor was implicated in the scandal.

"This is what happens when you take the lead in the polls and you're ahead of everyone else. They all come at you," Becerra said. He added: "This is a great Trump tactic that's used. I didn't expect it to come from fellow Democrats." Referring to his rivals, he said, "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"

Rival candidates accused Becerra of wavering on support for single-payer healthcare and of failing to stem healthcare and unemployment fraud while serving as attorney general. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan pointed to fraudulent unemployment and hospice claims early in the COVID-19 pandemic. "He wasn't minding the shop," Mahan said, referring to Becerra's tenure as attorney general. "I mean, the Biden administration had to sideline him during COVID. This is not good leadership," he said.

Steve Hilton said Becerra should prepare his own criminal defense rather than running for governor. The debate included Democrats Becerra, Tom Steyer, Mahan, Katie Porter and Antonio Villaraigosa, along with Republicans Chad Bianco and Hilton. Tony Thurmond did not reach the polling threshold to qualify. The debate was moderated by Ryan Yamamoto, Tom Wait and Schuyler Hudak Prionas before nearly 200 people.

The candidates discussed affordability, housing, public safety, climate, education and healthcare. An introductory video showed a single mother struggling to fill her gas tank and buy groceries. Mahan also targeted other rivals. "Tom Steyer's structural change sounds to me more like socialism. His plans literally would double the size of state government," Mahan said. "That's not going to drive affordability. Steve Hilton is touting his Donald Trump endorsements. You've got tariffs and wars driving up costs," he said.

Hilton responded by targeting Mahan's record in San Jose. "I love the way Matt talks about how he's going to lower costs when his city was recently rated the most expensive, the least affordable for housing, in the world," Hilton said. Republicans are consolidating behind Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, while Democrats remain split largely between Becerra and Steyer ahead of the June 2 primary.