Dems jockeying for Newsom endorsement give passing grades on issue that ignited ‘poop map’ crisis

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None of the Democratic candidates running to replace outgoing California GovernorGavin Newsomgave him below a B-minus grade on combating homelessness, a moment that Republicans sharing the debate stage on Wednesday evening called a laughable evaluation of the state’s problem.

“My goodness, of course it’s an F,”forced the four Democraticcandidates to weigh in on efforts to unwind a crisis that has only worsened in recent years despite billions in funding.It also highlighted a reluctance among Democrats to critique Newsom, who has yet to make an endorsement in the race.

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California governor Gavin Newsom, left, pictured alongside a homeless encampment, right

California Governor Gavin Newsom pictured alongside a homeless encampment (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images;Allen J.Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

“I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, said.

“I don’t think this has been an easy problem to solve, but I do give him a lot of credit for calling attention to the problem.”

Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman-turned candidate, put Newsom’s performance in the same ballpark.

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“So, I’d give the governor a B-minus on this,” Steyer said.

But one other Democrat, former U.S.Secretary of Health and Human ServicesXavier Becerra, made the casethat the grade was too low, citing Newsom’s “effort.”

“I would say that the governor has made efforts.We’ve seen him come down toLos Angeles, actually go out and try to clean some of these streets.On effort, I would give him an A,” Becerra said.

The six candidates for California governor appear on a debate stage

Matt Mahan, Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Tom Steyer and Katie Porter appear during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco Wednesday, April 22, 2026.(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg – Pool/Getty Images)

California reported 161,400 people had experienced homelessness on any given night in 2024,according tothe California State Senate Housing Committee.

The numbers are higher than when Newsom took office in January 2019.

That year, the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Developmentput California’shomeless populationat 108,400 — 32% less than levels in 2024.

The persistently high rates have thwarted billions in funding to bring the numbers down.California has spent roughly $20 billion on homeless initiatives from 2019 to 2025,according tothe California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank.

� “Hannity,” Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis illustrated the acuteness of the homelessness problem by holding up a map of San Francisco, detailing over 270,000 reported instances of feces found on the streets of the city, which was dubbed the “poop map” on social media.

ToRepublican candidate Chad Bianco,Riverside County’s sheriff, it’s clear the problem has nothing to do with money.

“It is anabsolute dismal failure,and anyone that says it’s not is fooling themselves — or trying to fool voters,” Bianco said.

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A trashed punching bag is left at a homeless encampment is seen on the side of the CA-101 highway in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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“We are not dealing with homeless, so stop calling it homeless.It has nothing to do with homes.These people are suffering fromdrug and alcohol abuseand mental illness.”

California will hold its gubernatorial primary June 2.The top two candidates will advance to thegeneral electionNov.3, according to the California Secretary of State.

He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.