California gubernatorial frontrunners clash in high-stakes debate as early voting gets under way

Seven of the leading contenders in California’s unexpectedly dramatic race for governor will meet on a debate stage Tuesday night. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Seven of the leading contenders in California’s unexpectedly dramatic race for governor faced off on Tuesday night, in a feisty, high-stakes showdown that arrived as voters begin casting ballots in the state’s nonpartisan primary.

The heightened tenor of the two-hour scrap matchup reflected how important the candidates viewed the debate, which aired on CNN to a national audience.