**Candidates Vow Support for Single-Payer Health Care at Forum, Avoid Specifics**

SAN FRANCISCO – Four prominent contenders for the California governorship reaffirmed their commitment to a single-payer health care system but sidestepped detailed financial plans during a candidates' debate at a health workers' union conference in San Francisco on Sunday. State Sen. Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state Schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former state Controller Betty Yee all endorsed the ambitious goal, a long-standing aspiration for progressives both in California and nationally.

While all candidates pledged support for single-payer healthcare, none provided a concrete strategy to finance it or address the challenges of gaining federal approval, especially if former President Donald Trump were to be re-elected. "We don't have single-payer in this state and in this country because people haven't had the political will to bring it forward," Thurmond emphasized.

The event, hosted by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, marked the first public debate among candidates in what promises to be a competitive race to succeed current Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Moderated by Lisa Matthews of the Associated Press, alongside Melanie Mason of POLITICO and Laurel Rosenhall of the Los Angeles Times, the forum notably lacked participation from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a declared candidate, and Attorney General Rob Bonta, a likely contender.

The candidates shared similar stances on several hot-button issues: opposing the death penalty, supporting the phase-out of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, and advocating for unemployment benefits for striking workers—an initiative that recently stumbled in the Legislature. However, their discussions on other critical issues, such as housing, homelessness, and the state’s pension funding crisis, leaned more towards generalities than detailed solutions.

Further discord emerged over Proposition 36, a ballot measure aiming to bolster penalties for drug and theft crimes. Despite its widespread public support, only Yee firmly opposed it, labeling it as "setting up false promises" and advocating for more focus on mental health and re-entry programs. Atkins and Thurmond expressed concerns about the proposition, while Kounalakis chose to keep her vote private.

Proposition 35, which proposes making permanent a tax on certain health care plans to fund the Medi-Cal program, saw Atkins and Thurmond in favor. "It forces us to live within those needs and not always do drastic cuts to healthcare," Atkins said. In contrast, Yee opposed the measure, citing possible federal resistance and a lack of transparency in its negotiation process, and Kounalakis remained neutral, highlighting the importance of flexibility in the state budget.

Concerning reparations for slavery, all four candidates backed the establishment of a state agency to manage reparations programs, with Thurmond delivering a passionate endorsement reflecting his personal connection to the issue. This stance diverges somewhat from Governor Newsom, who recently faced criticism for proposing amendments that some advocates argue delayed relevant legislation.

The forum provided a platform for the candidates to express their visions and underline their commitments, even as they navigated the complexities and disagreements intrinsic to policymaking.