California governor race heats up as Becerra and Hilton clash on CNN

Steve Hilton came ready to rumble Wednesday night, invoking a notorious Washington insult by reminding voters that Xavier Becerra had been called a “Bitch-ass” by a former Biden administration official — setting a fiery tone as Becerra found himself defending his record from the opening exchanges of California’s lone scheduled gubernatorial debate

The Republican challenger repeatedly put Becerra on the defensive over taxes, government red tape and his record as attorney general, while the Democratic front-runner countered with attacks on Hilton’s tax plan and ties to President Donald Trump.

“Thank you to CNN for bringing Xavier Becerra out of hiding,” Hilton said.

Hilton used the CNN stage to hammer Becerra over what he portrayed as a lack of action during his time as the state’s top law-enforcement official.

“When you were there as Attorney General, you did nothing,” he said. “You did nothing.”

The clash quickly turned to money. Hilton backed eliminating taxes on the first $150,000 and scrapping the gas tax, while Becerra argued that tax cuts would hurt working people.

Hilton countered that the plan would cut taxes for both working Californians and wealthier residents, whom he said create jobs. Becerra instead branded the proposal “Trump tax cuts” and warned, “You’re going to end up giving the wealthiest Californians a 40% tax break.”

Becerra also said he did not want Wall Street to have an easier time affording homes than California teachers.

Then came one of the night’s sharpest exchanges. After Becerra argued against repeating policies he believes produce poor results, Hilton fired back: “Yes, like voting Democrat.”

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The candidates also clashed over artificial intelligence, with Hilton calling for a pause on AI in California classrooms. Becerra highlighted his lawsuits against Google and Meta.

“And I will continue to do so as governor,” Becerra said.

The Republican entered the debate trailing in two September polls. The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Poll had Becerra at 58% and Hilton at 33%, while the Public Policy Institute of California Statewide Survey put the race at 60% to 38%.

With no second debate scheduled, Wednesday’s faceoff gave both candidates their only planned chance to unload on each other before California voters made their choice.

Hilton then challenged Becerra to name something he had done to reduce red tape. Becerra pointed to his lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach in Orange County.

“That’s more red tape,” Hilton shot back.

Becerra also warned that California would get “Trump results” if Hilton won, while Trump has endorsed Hilton and backed his campaign.

The tension peaked when the debate turned directly to immigration policy. Becerra went after Hilton on skin color, saying that Hilton just wanted to deport immigrants who didn’t look like him.

“What a disgraceful remark that was,” Hilton replied.

“No differentiation between legal and illegal,” Becerra said.

Hilton has also made Becerra’s record a central target outside the debate, including a campaign website built around the nickname “Bitch-ass Becerra,” which draws on a reported Washington-era insult attributed to former Biden administration adviser Susan Rice.

The California Post reported Tuesday that former Biden administration colleagues questioned Becerra’s fitness to be governor, with one alleging he disparaged migrant children as “little Juanitos and Juanitas.”

“I do not think he is qualified to be the governor,” Becerra’s ex-colleague told The Post.

“I don’t think he’s qualified to be the boss of anything.”