California governor rivals prepare for sole scheduled campaign debate
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are set to meet in the only scheduled debate of California’s governor campaign. The CNN event comes shortly before mail ballots are expected to reach voters, with Hilton seeking to close a reported polling gap and Becerra defending his government record.
California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton are due to meet in the campaign’s only scheduled debate, giving the Republican an opportunity to challenge the Democrat before mail ballots begin arriving. The hour-long debate on CNN is scheduled days before the November 3 general election. Becerra, a Democrat, and Hilton, a Republican, are competing to replace outgoing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Hilton has campaigned on the argument that Californians need change because of high living costs, taxes and a persistent homelessness crisis. He has promised to reduce gasoline prices to $3 a gallon, halve utility bills and remove state income tax on the first $150,000 in earnings. Becerra is also focusing on household costs while presenting himself as an experienced public official.
He has served in state and federal office for more than 35 years, including as California attorney general and as secretary of health under former President Joe Biden. A September poll by the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies found Becerra with a sizeable lead, according to the supplied report. A Republican has not won a statewide election in California since 2006.
Hilton has the endorsement of President Donald Trump. The report said that support could create difficulties as voters express concern about rising petrol and grocery prices and Trump’s popularity declines. Trump has lost California in each of his three presidential campaigns.
The candidates emerged from a primary that included former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell and billionaire Tom Steyer. Swalwell left the race and later announced he would leave Congress after allegations of sexual assault, while Steyer spent heavily on advertising but failed to win the Democratic nomination. Neither candidate’s debate strategy was specified.
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