Latest News: Republican Cox Does not Offer Position on Kavanaugh

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The latest news of a debate between the candidates for the appointment to the governorship of California (local time):

11:25

The Republican candidate for governor of California, John Cox, did not say whether he was in favor of Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the United States Supreme Court.

During a debate on Monday, Cox said he was focusing on California's problems and that he "will not put himself in the center of the rendezvous."

Cox says that Christine Blasey Ford's allegations deserved to be heard. She says Kavanaugh assaulted her at a party while both were in high school. Kavanaugh denies the allegation.

Democratic candidate Gavin Newsom said Kavanaugh would play a major role in important areas for California, such as reproductive rights. He opposed the appointment.

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11h

The California Democratic candidate for governorship highlights the similarities of his Republican opponent with President Donald Trump on immigration policy and environmental policy.

Republican John Cox pleaded for the repeal of California's so-called sanctuary law limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities during a debate with Democrat Gavin Newsom.

Newsom says the law protects immigrants and ensures the safety of communities. He used Cox's opposition to the law and his support for building a border wall to draw parallels with the unpopular president in California.

On environmental policy, Cox said he thought California needed to take into account the economic costs of tackling climate change.

Newsom, meanwhile, was working to tie Cox to Trump's decision to pull the United States out of an international climate deal aimed at reducing emissions.

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11h

The two California candidates for governorship have clearly separated on criminal justice issues in their first and only debate.

Republican John Cox objected on Monday to new laws that open police records, criticized outgoing Democratic governor Jerry Brown, and said he would focus on keeping firearms mental patients rather than other gun control measures.

Cox also urged the media to stop publishing names and photographs of mass shooters.

Democrat Gavin Newsom said Cox's proposals hide his opposition to gun control. Newsom would develop Brown's criminal justice reforms.

Candidates also came up against California's recent decision to eliminate bail.

Newsom says the old system hurts the poor and racial minorities. Cox says that removing it eliminates the bond industry.

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10:30

California governor candidates highlight different strategies for building more housing.

Republican John Cox said during a radio debate on Monday that he was going to change environmental regulations. As governor, he says that he would reduce these regulations to make housing construction cheaper and faster.

Democrat Gavin Newsom believes that tax reform is a way to encourage local governments to approve more housing. He says he would try to change laws that limit property tax revenues for cities because it could prevent the construction of housing.

Cox also says that it's important to keep local control over housing while Newsom insists on creating state-wide housing goals.

Both stressed that it was important to increase the rate of housing construction while the state was facing a severe shortage.

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10 hours

Both California governor candidates have said that affordability is a central element of the race.

Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox said Monday that the cost of housing was a serious problem that the next governor had to solve.

Both attend Monday at their only scheduled debate.

Newsom claims that California is both the richest and poorest state, and that the state needs to improve its work by addressing inequality.

Cox says that Californians should live in a state where they can afford to buy a house or pay their rent and not meet homeless people on the streets.

He blames Newsom and Sacramento interest groups for raising prices.

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7h

The two men hoping to be California's next governor are preparing to meet for what will likely be their only one-on-one debate.

Republican John Cox and Democrat Gavin Newsom will debate Monday morning at the public radio station KQED in San Francisco. The one hour session will not be televised but will be offered to radio stations to broadcast throughout the state.

The debate will be a crucial opportunity for Cox to get his message across or try to trip Newsom. He followed Newsom in polls and fundraising. The impact of a day debate reserved for radio could however be limited.

Cox is a San Diego-area lawyer, accountant and investor who has never been elected. Newsom is the lieutenant governor of California and former mayor of San Francisco.