Democrat gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra will finally face Republican candidate Steve Hilton in a real, one-on-one debate on Wednesday evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Until now, he\u2019s been running a no-show campaign that raises fears he\u2019ll be a do-nothing governor.<\/a><\/p>\n Hilton has run an energetic campaign, proposing dozens of reforms to failing state policies. He has crisscrossed the state and made himself available to the press on an open basis.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks to members of the media on a property being rebuilt after it was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Altadena, Calif. Becerra met with Altadena residents who lost their homes in the fire and toured recovery sites as the California gubernatorial race is underway ahead of the November 3 election. Getty Images<\/p>\n Dr. Carolina Reyes, wife of Xavier Becerra, and their daughters Clarisa, Natalia and Olivia attend the Xavier Becerra for Governor Election Night Party at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. David Buchan for Ca Post<\/p>\n Supporters gather during the Xavier Becerra for Governor Election Night Party at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. David Buchan for Ca Post<\/p>\n Becerra, in contrast, has run from the media. Worse, he hasn\u2019t bothered to tell voters much about his policies. He\u2019s just running as \u201cgeneric Democrat.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s working.\u00a0<\/p>\n Becerra has a huge lead in the polls, which may even be growing, as voters, lacking further information, retreat to the comfort of partisan identity.<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that Trump is unpopular in the Golden State. It\u2019s true that the Republican brand is a toxic label here.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s equally true that Democrats have let California down.<\/p>\n Yes, we have the world\u2019s fourth-largest economy, but that\u2019s in spite of our government, not because of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n State spending is out of control, and so is fraud. The cost of living is astronomical.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Xavier Becerra for Governor Election Night Party is held Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles. David Buchan for Ca Post<\/p>\n Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during a news conference opposing Proposition 39, a California voter ID ballot measure, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Daniel Cole<\/p>\n California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks to the media as Eaton Fire survivors Gayle and Rasheed Ali stand by on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Altadena, California. Becerra met with Altadena residents who lost their homes in the fire and toured recovery sites as the California gubernatorial race is underway ahead of the November 3 election. Getty Images<\/p>\n Water is scarce, and fuel is expensive. Police are in short supply, but the homeless are everywhere. Our roads are crumbling, and our schools are dismal.<\/p>\n We still have the beaches and the mountains \u2014 at least we did, until El Ni\u00f1o washed away the shore and wildfires spread across the state.<\/p>\n We need to turn California around.<\/p>\n But there are never political consequences.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> Becerra has decided that the best way to get elected is not to articulate policy, but rather to count on Democrats mailing in their ballots.<\/p>\n It\u2019s arrogant, it\u2019s dismissive of the electorate, and it does not give us any vision or even a direction.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just more of the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n You should have to make a case to get elected. You should have to ask Californians for their vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead, we have a likely governor who hasn\u2019t bothered to tell us who he is or what he stands for.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is a truly significant moment for our state. We have a massive budget \u2014 and a looming structural deficit.<\/p>\n We have a booming AI economy \u2014 and new challenges to it.<\/p>\n We have natural disasters of every kind \u2014 and our state always seems unprepared.<\/p>\n Becerra is sleepwalking to November.\u00a0<\/p>\n The debate is an opportunity for him to make his case, and defend it.\u00a0<\/p>\n California deserves no less.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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