California gubernatorial candidates square off against Xavier Becerra in the latest debate

Democratic front-runner Xavier Becerra drew fire from all sides in the final gubernatorial debate before the June primary. He was an easy target given that his former political consultant was in court earlier Thursday pleads guilty to federal fraud charges.

But despite San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan calling Becerra “the epitome of the status quo” and former Fox News host Steve Hilton arguing that Becerra should prepare for criminal defense rather than run for office, former California Attorney General tried to brush off the strokes.

• Bessera: “That’s what happens when you’re leading the polls and you’re ahead of everyone else. Everyone jumps on you.”

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter also drew laughs from the audience for prompting Becerra to reveal her state revenue plan, holding up a handwritten question on a piece of paper that was reminiscent of her whiteboard days in the House.

The race is still up in the air. Only 3% of the ballots were returnedand 12% of likely voters remain undecided, according to latest poll from Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics. Becerra led with 19 percent of respondents backing him, followed by Hilton, a Republican, and billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, who both received 17 percent.

Two of them, regardless of party, will continue in the general election in November. And concerns among Democratic voters that two Republicans will be on the ballot are somewhat delaying their decision until a clearer leader emerges.

In addition to attacking Becerra, the candidates tried to differentiate themselves with answers about how they would address housing, affordability and education.

Steyer made familiar promises, including single payer health care and a building 1 million homes. Porter laid out his four-point plan to address affordability, which includes eliminating state income taxes for people earning less than $100,000 — an idea Porter admitted he took from Hilton.

Both Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa cited their experience in big-city governance, touting their record of reducing homelessness and crime rates in their cities.

Meanwhile, the two GOP candidates have teamed up to blame the state’s long-dominant Democratic Party for today’s affordability and housing crisis. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco advocated for more deregulation and curbing “excessive fraud.” And Hilton said he’s not an “ideologue” but is running to restore balance from the state’s “one-party rule.”

If you still haven’t decided, spend some time with our voter guide.

Read more for the debate by Jeanne Kuang of CalMatters.