Xavier Becerra goes eerily silent as he runs out the clock on California governor’s race

Xavier Becerra’s campaign for governor has hit the snooze button since winning the California gubernatorial primary in June — but his indolent strategy may become an issue as voters wake up ahead of November’s election.

The career Democratic politician — rising from the state Legislature to Congress, California attorney general and eventually US health secretary — has kept a strikingly low profile since advancing to the runoff with Republican challenger Steve Hilton.

Hilton claims Becerra, who promised to debate Hilton last month, has since dodged no fewer than eight invitations to do just that.

“He can’t have a scheduling conflict for everything,” Hilton told The California Post.

California Democrats enjoy a sizable voter-registration advantage over the GOP, raising speculation that Becerra sees the race as a cakewalk — which Hilton called an insult to voters.

“This guy is either asleep, gone on vacation or is absolutely terrified of answering any questions. Either way, it is treating Californians with complete contempt,” Hilton added.

Becerra’s website, which was found to be woefully out of date in a recent report by the San Francisco Standard, lists just four press releases since late June. Meanwhile, his public calendar has been notably sparse, mostly eschewing rallies for fundraisers and elite meet-and-greets.

“It’s exactly what you expect from a 36-year career politician who has failed at every job he’s had,” Hilton said. “Now we know why when he was in the Biden cabinet, [former US ambassador to the United Nations] Susan Rice called him ‘bitch-ass Becerra.’”

One of Becerra’s most notable campaign moments since early June was a quick-step to a getaway car as he dodged reporters’ questions while slipping out early from a Capitol press conference.

Becerra’s lethargic approach has left even some prominent California Democrats and interest groups wondering what he would do if elected governor.

“He’s the incredible missing man,” Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, told Politico while discussing Becerra’s absence from the bruising fight over a proposed wildfire liability overhaul.

“I have not heard at all about his preference on this deal, which is really unusual because he’s the one that’s [likely] stuck with the results.”

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Becerra finally weighed in with an opaque statement after the deal collapsed.

“When it comes to devastating wildfires, it’s no longer a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ disaster strikes,” Becerra said in a statement provided to The Post.

“Californians deserve a system that puts victims first and delivers real support and lasting change. Survivors have waited long enough — it’s time to get this right.”

Becerra, who was an afterthought in the primary until the career implosion of ex-congressman Eric Swalwell, has publicly promised that he will debate Hilton more than once before Election Day, but he has yet to say when or where.

Jonathan Underland, a Becerra campaign spokesman, disputed that the former health secretary is dodging debates.

“The characterization that he is ‘refusing’ to debate is simply inaccurate. Secretary Becerra has committed multiple times to debates, including on Aug. 5,” Underland said, referencing the day Becerra hightailed it as reporters peppered him with questions.

Underland added: “We have been actively engaged in debate negotiations with multiple networks, and we will be announcing our debate schedule shortly.”

Becerra’s campaign also pushed back on the broader notion that he has disappeared in his effort to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Underland said Becerra has participated in open press events across nearly every California media market and visited more than 34 cities in 14 counties since the primary. He added that the campaign website has now been “fully updated” and argued voters are more engaged with Becerra through social media.

A review of posts on X shows Becerra is regularly ratioed into oblivion.

“I’m running for Governor because I believe in California and I believe in what we can accomplish when we fight for every Californian,” Becerra wrote.

“I’ve spent my career standing up for working families, protecting our communities, and making the California Dream possible.”

He added, “I’m ready to keep fighting.”

The post had just over 400 likes and 700-plus comments as of Thursday afternoon.

Hilton had fighting words of his own for Becerra’s posts and refusal to agree to debates.

“Everything he puts out on social media is full of platitudes,” Hilton said. “He’s full of s—.”

Becerra has good reason to feel comfortable heading into the campaign’s final two months. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted in August for the Los Angeles Times showed Becerra leading Hilton 55% to 37%.

Dan Schnur, a professor of political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, told The Post that Becerra’s strategy is in a defensive crouch for good reason.

“Becerra’s campaign knows that the only way he loses is because of a major scandal or a major mistake. The best way to not make mistakes is to stay out of sight,” Schnur said. “So we probably won’t see much of him this fall.”

Underland called any suggestion that Becerra is trying to coast on that advantage “absurd.”

“Campaigning isn’t about saying anything to grab a headline — it’s about showing up and meeting voters where they are,” he said.

However, Underland did concede that the voter registration advantage is “a political reality.”

Hilton said he’s still waiting to see if Becerra follows through on his promise to meet him on a debate stage.

“We accepted all of them. He accepted none of them,” Hilton said. “Until he accepts one, I won’t believe it.”