In a sharp and combative exchange, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton faced off in a CNN debate Wednesday over the state’s gubernatorial seat.
The debate, the first and only scheduled before ballots go out to California voters, covered immigration, the economy, and healthcare over the course of one hour.
Hilton, a former Fox News host, has secured the backing of President Trump, who endorsed the London-born Republican during the primary season.
Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner, repeatedly sought to link Hilton to Trump throughout the debate, a strategy Hilton pushed back against forcefully.
“All you’ve got is to talk about federal politics. All you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,'” Hilton said at one point in the debate.
Becerra fired back immediately, telling his opponent, “Your words: ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’ because he is your supporter, you chased his endorsement,” before the two rivals broke into crosstalk.
While Becerra leaned on the Trump association, Hilton focused his attacks on Becerra’s record as Health and Human Services secretary under the Biden administration.
Becerra surged to frontrunner status after former Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the governor’s race amid sexual misconduct allegations, which the now-resigned congressman denies.
Becerra finished first in California’s top two, nonpartisan primary in June and has led Hilton in every poll conducted since that contest.
California has not elected a Republican to a statewide office in two decades, making the race an uphill battle for Hilton from the start.
Decision Desk HQ considers the governor’s mansion solidly Democratic, giving Hilton only a 3-percent chance of flipping the seat to the Republican column.
Hilton has attempted to broaden his appeal beyond traditional Trump supporters, also targeting Republicans who are frustrated with the current administration.
Becerra is running to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and widely considered to have national political ambitions of his own.
