California governor candidates debate

The race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor intensified on Tuesday night as eight candidates participated in a chaotic televised debate.

Contenders from both parties traded sharp barbs over the state's escalating housing crisis, rising crime rates, and the ballooning $231 billion price tag of the high-speed rail project.

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer positioned himself as a 'class traitor,' arguing for higher taxes on the wealthy, while Republican rivals focused their attacks on the administration's handling of the border and energy costs.

The debate highlighted deep divisions within the Democratic party as candidates seek to define their vision for the nation's most populous state ahead of the primary.