California Governor Candidates to Hold Only Scheduled Debate
Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off Tuesday, days before mail ballots are sent to voters.
The candidates vying for California governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, are set to meet for the only scheduled debate of the campaign on Tuesday. The hourlong matchup on CNN comes just days before mail ballots are expected to be distributed to voters ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Seeking to succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hilton is campaigning on a platform of change, highlighting concerns about the state's cost of living, high taxes, and the persistent homeless crisis. Becerra, meanwhile, is promising to address household costs and continue to oppose President Donald Trump's agenda.
A September poll by the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies indicated that Becerra holds a significant lead over Hilton. Historically, a Republican has not won a statewide election in California, a heavily Democratic state, since 2006.
Hilton carries an endorsement from President Trump, but this support may prove to be a disadvantage given the president's declining popularity and voter dissatisfaction with rising gas and grocery prices. Trump has a historically contentious relationship with California, where he lost significant margins in his presidential campaigns.
Both candidates emerged from a competitive primary. The race saw the departure of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who announced he would leave Congress following allegations of sexual assault. Billionaire Tom Steyer also ran an extensive advertising campaign in an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination.
Hilton has pledged to lower gasoline prices to $3 per gallon, reduce utility bills by half, and eliminate state income taxes on earnings up to $150,000. Becerra, who has served over 35 years in state and federal government, including as California's attorney general and former President Joe Biden's health secretary, emphasizes his extensive experience. He has stated, "The governor's office is not a place with training wheels."