But there are some advantages to being part of the status quo.
Mr. Newsom displayed a command of details on policy issues that comes from years in Sacramento — in talking, for example, about how to push for the creation of more housing. And he accused Mr. Cox of being vague. “What we heard from John is an illusory strategy where he criticizes and identifies problems, but with all due respect doesn’t have the details on how he would deal with these problems,” he said.
It took 43 minutes before these two words — Donald Trump — were uttered.
“Trump would have an advocate in Sacramento if he becomes governor,” Mr. Newsom said of Mr. Cox. He highlighted Mr. Cox’s support of Mr. Trump’s tough immigration policies, as well as his opposition to abortion rights.
Mr. Cox pushed back, asserting that that was not what this election was about. “We are talking about all these social issues that I am not running to change one iota,” he said. “I am running to make sure people can have an affordable life.”
For those keeping score, Mr. Cox made no mention of Mr. Trump, though some of his language might have seemed familiar to anyone who had been to a Trump rally. “I represent change,” he said. “We are going to start reforming our broken political system from Day 1.”
An interesting proposal on gun control.
Mr. Cox urged the news media to stop publicizing the names of accused gunmen. “More laws are not going to do the job,” he said. “I certainly favor keeping guns out of hands of people who are dangerous, who are mentally ill. The Second Amendment is an important amendment.”
