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California Gubernatorial Candidates Clash in Final Debate

12:05 AM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton faced off in their final debate before the November election on Wednesday night at CNN's Burbank studio.

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.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and businessman and Fox News contributor Steve Hilton emerged as the final two candidates with more than 40% of the vote in the primary.

Ahead of the debate, Hilton spoke with NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai about his campaign, emphasizing his goal to follow the law and 'lower the temperature' of the illegal immigration debate.

During the debate, Becerra said the measure would make it harder for Californians to vote and urged voters to reject it.

The candidates also offered sharply different views on the state's economy and affordability, with Becerra arguing that California welcomed immigrants and criticized Hilton for welcoming ICE mercenaries into the state.

Moderators opened the debate with a question about affordability in California, a topic both candidates emphasized during their campaigns.

The candidates also touched upon regulations for artificial intelligence companies, where Hilton criticized Becerra for taking money from tech companies.

Calmatters noted that Californians watching the debate would be forgiven for thinking the candidates for governor are President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party.

Becerra mentioned the president, who is widely unpopular in California, more than a dozen times during the hourlong debate on CNN.

What this adds

Background

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

• Barabak watched the gubernatorial match-up and weigh in.
• Leading up to the debate, Becerra appeared to have captured a larger share.
• "The governor's office is not a place with training wheels," he said during April's CBS News Governor's Debate.
• The pair vied to win over the 47.4% of voters who supported their opponents in the primary during the debate, which aired on CNN.
• 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.

Sources

• CBS Newslink
• Calmatterslink
• KPFAlink
• Los Angeles Daily Newslink
• NBC Bay Arealink
• NBC Palm Springslink
• mb.ntd.comlink
• Los Angeles Timeslink
• Fox Newslink
• Washingtonexaminerlink
• Sbsunlink
• Fox Businesslink
• WarpBeat — background on California Gubernatorial Candidates Clash in Final Debate link
• WarpBeat — background on Becerra, Hilton Face Off in Final California Gubernatorial Debate link
• KTLA 5 — video link