Becerra maintains lead over Hilton in California governor debate
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In a one-hour televised debate, Democratic nominee Xavier Becerra defended his record and held his advantage against Republican challenger Steve Hilton, who was unable to gain traction with voters.
Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton faced each other for a 60-minute debate on a Burbank soundstage on Wednesday. Both candidates answered questions on housing, health insurance and pandemic policies, but Becerra largely stayed on the offensive and avoided major missteps, while Hilton focused on criticizing the Democratic Party.
Columnists observing the debate noted that Becerra appeared confident and authoritative, reinforcing his status as the favorite in a state where Democrats have long held structural advantages. Hilton, who has campaigned on slogans such as “Make California Gold Again,” was described as struggling to present a distinct policy vision and relying heavily on attacks against Becerra.
"We’ve got to try something different," Hilton said in his closing remarks.
Analysts said the debate offered voters a chance to compare the two candidates beyond campaign ads, but concluded that it was unlikely to shift the overall outlook of the race, with Becerra expected to remain the leading choice on Nov. 3.