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Becerra, Hilton Face Off in Final California Gubernatorial Debate
Confirmed
In Short: In their final debate before the November election, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton took the stage Wednesday night at CNN's Burbank studio.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and businessman Steve Hilton, who emerged as the final two candidates with more than 40% of the vote in the primary, focused on affordability, housing, homelessness, and illegal immigration.
Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash led the one-hour debate, which covered a wide range of issues including gas prices, jobs, the economy, AI data centers, vaccines, and climate change.
Becerra emphasized the need to address California's high cost of living, while Hilton aimed to 'lower the temperature' on the illegal immigration debate, prioritizing the removal of dangerous criminals.
During the debate, Becerra repeatedly linked Hilton to President Donald Trump, criticizing his policies on immigration, taxes, housing, and the environment.
The candidates also offered sharply different views on the state's economy and homelessness, with Becerra urging voters to reject Proposition 1, which he said would make it harder for Californians to vote.
Both candidates acknowledged the importance of tackling the state's housing affordability crisis, with Becerra arguing that the governor's office is not a place for training wheels.
The debate was the first scheduled head-to-head debate between Becerra and Hilton since the June primary, and it aired live on CNN.
Calmatters noted that Californians watching the debate might have thought the candidates were President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party, given the frequent mentions of the president.
Barabak, who watched the debate, commented on the candidates' efforts to win over the 47.4% of voters who supported their opponents in the primary.
What this adds
The debate was the first scheduled head-to-head debate between Becerra and Hilton since the June primary, and it aired live on CNN.
The candidates also touched upon regulations for artificial intelligence companies, where Hilton criticized Becerra for taking money from tech companies.
The debate was held at CNN's Burbank studio, and it covered a range of issues including affordability, taxes, housing, homelessness, education, artificial intelligence, immigration, and the candidates' views on President Donald Trump.
Background
In their final debate before the November election, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton took the stage Wednesday night, Sept. 27, at CNN's Burbank studio.
In their final debate before the November election, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton took the stage Wednesday night, Sept. 27, at CNN's Burbank studio.
What's confirmed
- In what could be their only face-to-face matchup before Election Day, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton took to the debate stage Wednesday night, Sept.
- Hilton said his goal is to follow the law and “lower the temperature” of the illegal immigration debate.
- “We’ve got to get this whole debate back to where most people want it to be, which is to prioritize the removal of dangerous criminals. That's not happening in California,” Hilton said.
- California’s high cost of living surfaced as the top issue at a live televised debate between gubernatorial candidates Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra on Sept.
- The one-hour debate moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash covered a wide range of issues including affordability, gas prices, housing and homelessness, illegal immigration, jobs and the economy, AI data centers, vaccines, and climate change.
- "California welcomed you into California, and you welcomed ICE mercenaries into our state in return," he said.
What's still developing
- Ahead of the debate, Hilton spoke with NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai about his campaign.
- Barabak watched the gubernatorial match-up and weigh in.
- Newsom's post came as the California governor has been working to tackle housing affordability in his state.
- Leading up to the debate, Becerra appeared to have captured a larger share.
- Updated on: September 30, 2026 / 10:06 PM PDT / CBS LA Candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton faced off in their first one-on-one debate ahead of the November election for California governor.
- The candidates also touched upon regulations for artificial intelligence companies, where Hilton criticized Becerra for taking money from tech companies.
- Instead, he said, he would prefer to “turn down the temperature” on that debate.
- The candidates argued over the best way to increase housing construction.
- Becerra mentioned the president, who is widely unpopular in California, more than a dozen times during the hourlong debate on CNN.
Sources
- CBS Newslink
- Calmatterslink
- KPFAlink
- NBC Bay Arealink
- NBC Palm Springslink
- San Bernardino Sunlink
- mb.ntd.comlink
- Los Angeles Timeslink
- Fox Newslink
- Washingtonexaminerlink
- Fox Businesslink
- Dailynewslink
- WarpBeat — background on California Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Key Issues link
- WarpBeat — background on Becerra, Hilton Face Off in Final California Gubernatorial Debate link
- KTLA 5 — video link