The Democratic gubernatorial primary candidates met for their final debate on Wednesday, less than a week ahead of the primary election on June 5.

After Sen. Nate Boulton dropped out, five candidates remain: businessman Fred Hubbell, union leader Cathy Glasson, former Chief of Staff for Gov. Tom Vilsack, John Norris, former Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire and former Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn.

Candidates are trying to reach 35 percent of the vote on Tuesday in order to avoid the nomination being decided at a state convention, but the race remains in close contention. While Fred Hubbell has been seen as the front runner, he has only polled at 31 percent. A large portion of voters were still undecided when the Des Moines Register and Mediacom conducted their poll, and most voters said they could be persuaded away from their current choice.

Boulton’s Absence

Sen. Nate Boulton, once seen as a top contender, withdrew his candidacy on May 24 following allegations of sexual misconduct. The five remaining candidates are now attempting to garner votes from former Boulton supporters.

The first questions of the evening focused on Boulton’s absence. Moderators Stacey Horst of KCCI and Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register asked candidates if they had anything in their background that Gov. Reynolds would be able to use against them and why Boulton supporters should turn to them.

All candidates said they had nothing to hide, except Cathy Glasson.

“Employers that we were trying to organize their workers may not like me too well,” Glasson said. “Boulton followers should like that though.”

Glasson also zeroed in on Boulton’s focus on workers’ rights, in an attempt to stand out amongst other candidates.

“Iowans want a real leader in this state and someone that puts their feet on the street, and honestly, I don’t remember my fellow opponents on this stage being there with me, so I would welcome Senator Boulton’s supporters to join us in this bold, progressive movement.”

In his response, John Norris spoke about his experience thirty years ago marching with Cesar Chavez in California and twenty years ago against WTO in Seattle.

Cannabis

In a line of rapid fire questioning, all candidates said they would expand medical marijuana laws in Iowa.

Three of the five candidates expressed favorable opinions of decriminalizing the drug. Ross Wilburn noted research opportunities that could come with rescheduling, and Glasson praised the ideas as a potential revenue source.

“I would look into it,” McGuire said.

However, Fred Hubbell said he would not be in favor of decriminalization and would need to see how it plays out in other states first.

Gun Control

In response to a question on gun control measures, all candidates advocated for some type of gun control legislation.

Glasson, Norris and Wilburn all noted they have received the Candidate of Distinction award from the gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Glasson, the first to receive the award, supports a 72 hour waiting period, raising the minimum purchasing age to 21, universal background checks and a ban on “high power assault rifles.”

McGuire and Norris both noted they were not against guns used for hunting and sports, but both did express a desire for some type of legislation.

Norris emphasized the need for a waiting period.

“My philosophy is if you need a gun right away, you probably don’t need a gun right away,” Norris said.

Hubbell emphasized public safety, and his endorsement from eight county sheriffs, and his desire to restore their discretion in gun licensing.

Is Iowa number one?

In February, a U.S. News and World Report report found that Iowa is the best state to live in, which Gov. Reynolds has been proud of. All five candidates disagreed with the findings.

Each candidate spoke to their experiences listening to Iowans, particularly minority and rural Iowans, showed the opposite of what the study found. They also all emphasized the need for healthcare and education funding.

Norris offered an indict of the study itself, claiming the study collected three year old data, meaning the fiscal ranking was because of the bond rating that Gov. Vilsack and Gov. Culver had. Norris went on to criticize the current administration.

“They can brag about it now, but if they continue the path we’ve been on since the three years that data was accumulated,” Norris said. “They have to own up to the fact that they’re failing in so many of the areas that that study highlighted.”

Though Wilburn agreed with fellow candidates on the idea of listening to Iowans, when asked if Iowa was number one, he countered, “Iowans are number one.”

Tax Cuts

Moderators asked candidates to raise their hand if they would repeal Gov. Reynolds’s recent tax bill, which is expected to cut $2.1 billion in taxes over the next six years.

McGuire, Norris and Wilburn each raised their hand in support of a full repeal. Glasson and Hubbell did not.

The three candidates in support of repealing the bill agreed Iowa cannot afford losing that much revenue.

While McGuire does support a repeal, she joined Hubbell in favoring certain aspects of the bill, such as requiring sales tax be paid by online vendors.

Hubbell said he would have vetoed the bill if it had come across his desk, but now that it is in place it must be dealt with.

Glasson favors a full revamping of Iowa’s tax system, saying that it needs to be progressive and not regressive. She joined with Norris, McGuire and Wilburn in saying the state needs revenue to fund healthcare and education.

Throughout the evening, all candidates expressed opposition to the recently passed abortion bill, support for systems that ensure safe, confidential reporting of workplace harassment, a need for statewide inclusivity, a feeling of urgency in undoing the privatization of Medicaid in Iowa and a willingness to release their tax returns.

In the closing remarks of the final primary debate, candidates attempted to differentiate themselves from their opponents and leave voters with a positive impression before the primary on Tuesday.

Glasson spoke on being a political outsider.

“I believe that if we reject politics as usual and instead we demand what it is that we need, we can change Iowa forever,” Glasson said.

McGuire spoke from her experience as a medical doctor and her belief that she is the most qualified to fix Iowa’s healthcare system.

Norris emphasized his opposition to the prioritization of corporate interests and a focus on education.

“I won’t go cheap on our children’s future,” Norris said.

Hubbell spoke about Iowa’s national appearance and ended with a criticism of Gov. Reynolds.

“Let’s face it. Governor Reynolds isn’t going to fix the mess we’re in, because she doesn’t even think it’s a problem, but you know it’s a problem, and I know it’s a problem,” Hubbell said. “That’s why I’m running for governor.”

Wilburn said that Iowans do not recognize their state anymore and spoke to what he believes voters will care about. “Iowans vote on their issues, their hopes, Iowa values, Iowa dreams.” He ended the debate with his campaign slogan, “Let’s be Iowa.”

To see a full video of the debate, visit KCCI.