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

Republican and Democratic candidates met again in race shaped by Eric Swalwell's exit and Xavier Becerra's rise

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.