California’s governor race has moved into a new phase, and the first head-to-head debate between Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton delivered a sharp collision over taxes, housing, immigration, Hollywood, and artificial intelligence. The candidates did not simply outline competing plans; they challenged each other’s records, alliances, and vision for the state.
Becerra, the Democratic candidate and former California attorney general and HHS secretary, faces Hilton, the Republican candidate, former Fox News host, and former adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Their debate arrived with Becerra holding the lead in polling, but Hilton used the stage to argue that California’s long Democratic rule has produced a state in need of a major change.
Taxes Put the First Clash Front and Center
Hilton proposed tax cuts on the first $150,000 of income and called for repealing California’s gas tax. Becerra criticized the plan, connecting it to Donald Trump and arguing that voters should question whether Trump-style tax policies would deliver better results.
“Proposing Trump tax policies, promising Trump tax cuts, believing you’re going to get better results than Trump has gotten so far to date, that is what — isn’t it the definition of insanity?” Becerra said.
Hilton defended the proposal with a direct argument about household finances: “the quickest way to get more money in people’s pockets is for the government to take less out.” The exchange framed the race around a central question: should California address its challenges through new public action, or by leaving more money with residents?
The candidates also traded personal attacks. Hilton said Becerra “wasn’t even supposed to be the candidate” and called him the sixth or seventh choice, arguing that Democratic voters only needed someone with a “D.” Becerra answered by pointing to Hilton’s support from Trump, saying, “Your words: ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’ because he is your supporter, you chased his endorsement.”
Hilton, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, responded with a swipe at Becerra’s media criticism: “I guess it’s from your experience being a talking head on Fox News, you’re so good at that, even though they’re not factual, even [though] they have nothing to do with reality.”
Housing and Immigration Reveal Two Different Californias
Housing offered the clearest contrast between the candidates’ governing plans. Hilton said he would incorporate 10 new cities, with counties bidding to host the construction of new communities. His approach would expand the places where new housing could be built.
Becerra outlined a different path. He said he would raise California’s housing supply by cutting red tape, expanding down payment assistance programs, protecting prospective homeowners from being outbid by investors, and enforcing laws that require local governments to build new homes. That plan targets both construction barriers and the competition facing people trying to buy a home.
Immigration produced one of the debate’s hottest moments. Hilton said he wanted to “lower the temperature” while ensuring a secure border. He also said people in the country illegally who have committed dangerous crimes should be removed, arguing that this is not happening in California.
Becerra answered with a pointed charge: “California welcomed you into California, and you welcomed ICE mercenaries into our state in return.” The clash showed how each campaign is trying to define the state’s role in immigration policy, with Hilton emphasizing enforcement and Becerra focusing on the conduct of immigration officers in California.
AI, Data Centers, and Hollywood Become Economic Battlegrounds
Artificial intelligence brought the debate into the future of California’s economy. Hilton criticized Becerra for taking money from tech companies and said he has sued Meta, Amazon, and Google. Becerra said he would impose limits on data centers and work with local communities to enforce regulations.
That argument puts data centers at the center of a larger fight over growth, regulation, and local control. California’s next governor would face choices about how communities manage the infrastructure tied to major technology companies, while also deciding how much room those companies have to expand.
The candidates also battled over Hollywood’s decline. Hilton blamed Becerra and Democrats for the exodus of Hollywood productions, saying, “Democrats have been in charge for 16 years. And this city, this iconic industry, is on the brink of collapse.”
Becerra answered with a short, forceful goal: “We’ve got to keep Hollywood in Hollywood.” The exchange connected entertainment jobs to the broader debate about California’s economic future, with Hilton presenting the industry’s troubles as evidence of Democratic failure and Becerra promising to defend its place in the state.
The race carries historic weight beyond the policy fights. California hasn’t elected a Republican statewide in two decades, and Romualdo Pacheco was the last Latina governor of California 150 years ago. Becerra finished the June primary with 28% of the vote, while Hilton finished with 24.6%; 47.4% of voters supported their opponents in the primary.
Eric Swalwell, a former Democratic candidate for California governor, dropped out of the primary in April 2026. On June 02, 2026, Becerra addressed supporters on election night, setting the stage for the contest against Hilton and the incumbent California governor, Gavin Newsom.
Polling gives Becerra a clear advantage, though the size of that lead has shifted. One recent poll showed 58% of likely voters supporting Becerra compared to 33% for Hilton. The most recent poll found 60% for Becerra and 38% for Hilton.
The debate aired on September 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM PDT on CBS LA, but the larger contest is still unfolding. Taxes, housing, immigration, AI regulation, data centers, and Hollywood now form one connected test of what California wants its next chapter to look like.
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