Becerra, Hilton tangle over ‘Trump, Trump, Trump’ in California governor debate

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton debated for the first and only scheduled time Wednesday night in California's governor's race, according to CNN and The Hill, repeatedly invoking President Donald Trump as they argued over who bears responsibility for the state's problems. The hourlong CNN debate, reported by The Hill, matters because it is likely the sole face-to-face meeting before voters choose a successor to term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a state CNN notes is home to about 12% of all Americans and sits at the center of national fights over cost of living, housing, homelessness, natural disasters and artificial intelligence.

Becerra, a former secretary of Health and Human Services and former state attorney general, tied Hilton's agenda directly to Trump throughout the debate, CNN reported. "You're going to end up with Trump results if you follow Steve Hilton's plan," Becerra said, according to CNN.

Hilton, a former Fox News host, pushed back on being linked to Trump while blaming Democratic control of Sacramento for the state's problems. "All you're offering is more of the same backed by the same corrupt machine in Sacramento," he said, per CNN. He later told Becerra that saying "Trump, Trump, Trump" insults Californians desperate for change, adding that Becerra is offering more of the same, CNN reported.

On taxes, Hilton proposed eliminating state income taxes on the first $150,000 Californians earn and setting a flat 8% rate on income above that level, CNN reported. Becerra compared the plan to Trump-era tax cuts, saying it would disproportionately help the wealthy and that Hilton's "math doesn't add up," according to CNN. On housing, Hilton proposed capping government construction fees at $50,000, while Becerra pointed to his 2019 lawsuit against Huntington Beach over affordable-housing requirements as attorney general; Hilton responded, "The definition of insanity is believing that the people who put the red tape in place are somehow going to cut it," CNN reported.

The candidates also split over artificial intelligence regulation, a pressing issue in the Silicon Valley-heavy state, CNN reported. Hilton avoided saying whether he agreed with Trump's endorsement of AI industry "self-policing," announced after a White House meeting with executives on Tuesday, and instead called for an "immediate pause" on AI use in classrooms, according to CNN. Becerra seized on the opening, saying, "If you listen closely, you can hear Donald Trump in that response by Steve Hilton," adding that Hilton is not interested in regulating AI, CNN reported.

Hilton attacked Becerra's record in the Biden administration, including the handling of a surge of unaccompanied migrant minors at the border and HHS guidance on masks and vaccines, CNN reported. He also cited a harsh description of Becerra attributed to former Biden domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, first reported by Axios, asking, "She described you as an 'idiot.' She called you 'bitch-ass.' Why did Susan Rice, a respected political leader, call you an idiot?" according to CNN. Becerra responded by touting his record of helping "create millions of jobs" and said, "Since when do I have to respond to politicians?" adding that he was focused on winning the votes of California voters, not politicians in Washington, CNN reported.