Becerra and Hilton Spar in Fiery California Gubernatorial Debate

Republican challenger Steve Hilton launched a sharp attack on Democratic front-runner Xavier Becerra Wednesday night, accusing him of inaction on taxes and government red tape during California's sole scheduled gubernatorial debate. Hilton, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, set a combative tone from the outset, referring to an insult attributed to a former Biden administration official that labeled Becerra a “Bitch-ass.”

Hilton pressed Becerra on his record as state attorney general, questioning his effectiveness in reducing what Hilton described as excessive government regulations. "When you were there as Attorney General, you did nothing," Hilton stated. "You did nothing."

The debate quickly devolved into a heated exchange over economic policy. Hilton proposed eliminating taxes on the first $150,000 of income and scrapping the state's gas tax. Becerra countered that such tax cuts would disproportionately benefit the wealthy and harm working-class Californians, branding Hilton's plan as akin to "Trump tax cuts" and warning it would result in a 40% tax break for the wealthiest residents. Becerra also emphasized his desire to make housing more affordable for California teachers than for Wall Street investors.

Clashes on Policy and Politics

The candidates also diverged on the issue of artificial intelligence. Hilton called for a moratorium on AI in California classrooms, while Becerra highlighted his administration's lawsuits against major tech companies like Google and Meta, vowing to continue such legal actions if elected governor.

When challenged by Hilton to cite an action taken to reduce red tape, Becerra pointed to a lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach. Hilton dismissed this, arguing it was an example of creating more bureaucracy. Becerra, in turn, warned that electing Hilton would lead to "Trump results" for California.

Hilton's campaign has also utilized the "Bitch-ass Becerra" nickname, drawing from a reported comment by former Biden administration advisor Susan Rice. Earlier this week, a former colleague of Becerra's alleged that he disparaged migrant children, telling The New York Post, “I do not think he is qualified to be the governor.”

Polls released in September indicated Becerra holding a significant lead over Hilton. The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Poll placed Becerra at 58% support compared to Hilton's 33%, while the Public Policy Institute of California Statewide Survey showed a 60% to 38% advantage for Becerra.

With no further debates scheduled, Wednesday's event represented the final opportunity for both candidates to directly confront each other before voters cast their ballots.