Hilton and Becerra Make Final Pitches as California Governor Race Nears End
Candidates crisscross the state in the final days before voters decide who will replace Governor Gavin Newsom.
California gubernatorial candidates Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are making their final appeals to voters as the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom enters its final days. Both candidates held campaign events across the state on Tuesday.
Republican Steve Hilton focused on what his campaign described as waste in the state's "Broadband-for-All" program, launched in 2021 with $3.25 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Hilton held a press conference in Newport Beach, alleging the program has connected only one community education center despite its substantial funding and has evaded federal oversight. Hilton has previously criticized state spending as a pattern of waste and fraud.
His platform includes an initiative called "Operation Zero Waste," which proposes canceling the state's high-speed rail project, reducing the executive branch workforce by 10%, reforming Medi-Cal, and capping per-unit costs for affordable housing to address homelessness.
Democrat Xavier Becerra, who has been noted for a lower public profile during the campaign, had a schedule of four events on Tuesday. He began the day with a press reception for Asian American community leaders in San Francisco, which was closed to the press. Becerra then attended a "No on Prop. 39" event in the same city, urging voters to reject the voter ID proposal, which has been trailing in polls. Becerra had previously established a committee to oppose the measure.
Later, Becerra held a reception with Black community leaders in Oakland, followed by a phone banking event at SEIU Local 2015 in the afternoon.
According to a poll commissioned by The California Post, Becerra holds a 15.7-point lead over Hilton, with 55% support compared to Hilton's 39.3%, and 4.9% undecided. The poll also indicated that 56% of California voters believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. Affordability was identified as a top concern, with 79.6% of voters prioritizing economic issues for the next governor.
Despite voter dissatisfaction with the state's direction, pollster John McLaughlin suggested that partisan alignment might favor Becerra. "Voters are extremely partisan, and prefer one of their own to a Republican," McLaughlin told The California Post. "They will vote for Becerra and hope for the best."