Steve Hilton Launches "B-ass Becerra" Website Ahead of California Gubernatorial Debate
Republican candidate Steve Hilton has launched a website branding Democratic opponent Xavier Becerra with a nickname reportedly originating from the White House.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has launched a website branding his Democratic opponent, Xavier Becerra, as "Bitch--ass Becerra," leveraging a reported insult from within the Biden administration.
The website, which went live ahead of Wednesday night's CNN debate, attacks Becerra's leadership as California's attorney general and former U.S. health secretary. It draws on criticism from former colleagues who have questioned Becerra's fitness for the governorship.
According to reports, the nickname "Bitch-ass" was attributed to former White House advisor Susan Rice in 2024. The website also cites an incident where Becerra allegedly disparaged migrant children as "little Juanitos and Juanitas," a claim Becerra's campaign has called an "outright fabrication." One former Biden official was quoted describing Becerra as having "dead-fish eyes" during a meeting about migrant children, stating, "No emotion. No response. Nothing there."
Hilton's campaign has also highlighted previous comments from other Democrats, including former Biden administration official Xochitl Hinojosa, who stated in a May CNN appearance that Becerra "was not effective in governing" and "was not an effective HHS secretary."
The "B-ass Becerra" website criticizes Becerra on issues such as immigration, alleged fraud, and rising costs, including energy bills. It also suggests that even Democrats have criticized Becerra's performance.
In addition to the nickname and website, Becerra faced scrutiny for his performance in a recent interview with the San Francisco Standard. He was asked to name companies whose donations he would reject and suggested he believed in "redemption" for companies, even mentioning Purdue Pharma, which he had previously sued.
During the interview, Becerra also failed to correct the interviewer when she referred to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie as "David." Becerra's campaign dismissed the criticism from former colleagues as "jealousy."
Despite these controversies, a recent PPIC poll shows Becerra leading Hilton 60% to 38% heading into the gubernatorial election. Hilton is banking on the nickname and campaign attacks to influence voters.