Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate for Governor of California, failed to respond to a debate question about whether applicants for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) should be required to have English language proficiency. Instead, Porter launched into a political tirade about racism and the Trump administration.

The question was asked in response to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s decision to withhold approximately $160 million in federal funding from California after the state failed to cancel over 17,000 “illegally issued” CDLs distributed to non-citizens or illegal immigrant truck drivers. The decision followed a series of road fatalities from non-citizen truck drivers, many of whom could not read or speak English.

“Do you believe that English language proficiency should be strictly enforced for truck drivers?” the debate host asked Porter on Wednesday.

“I would absolutely fight the Trump administration,” Porter responded, adding that “the job of the California governor is to protect Californians.”

“And right now,” she continued, “that includes protecting them from Donald Trump.”

Porter, the leading Democratic candidate, proceeded to take a jab at her GOP opponent, Sheriff Chad Bianco, still refusing to answer the question. She slammed Bianco for his comments that Californians are tired of Democrats injecting “racism” into everything.

“I am stunned that Mr. Bianco would say, to black and brown Californians – to immigrants who are being terrorized and racially profiled – that you have to ‘get over’ racism. It’s not something that you get over; it’s something that you fight,” said Porter.

The host did not press Porter on her failure to answer the question before shifting to the next candidate.

The first California gubernatorial debate since Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) withdrew from the campaign amid allegations of sexual misconduct was held on Wednesday night, featuring six candidates. Two Republican candidates, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, joined four Democrats, including billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and Porter.