Xavier Becerra has made a campaign out of saying nothing. Steve Hilton will seemingly say anything to anyone as long as there\u2019s a microphone. <\/p>\n
Neither dynamic is promising for voters tuning into Wednesday night\u2019s televised debate on CNN <\/a>with the two candidates vying<\/a> to replace Gavin Newsom as California\u2019s new governor. <\/p>\n But don\u2019t worry, Golden State voters \u2014 Times columnists Gustavo Arellano<\/a>, Mark Z. Barabak<\/a> and Anita Chabria<\/a> are watching every minute, every second, really, to bring you the zingers, gaffes and hopefully maybe even some insights. <\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Barabak: And that\u2019s all, folks!<\/p>\n Arellano: The camera ends with Hilton and Becerra standing awkwardly and not shaking hands. Jake should\u2019ve pulled a number out of the Bob Marley playbook when he forced rival political Jamaican leaders to join him on stage and greet each other. Yeah, that went nowhere \u2014 but it\u2019s a start for rapproachment, no?<\/p>\n Arellano: Becerra by a country mile. Now, he goes back to his bunker like Punxsutawney Phil until Election Night.<\/p>\n Chabria: Winner, winner chicken dinner? It\u2019s Becerra, with a surprising strong performance. Any arguments, Mark or Gustavo?<\/p>\n Arellano: After complaining for an hour about how horrible California is…Hilton now says it\u2019s \u201cthe most amazing\u201d state of them all? Well, which one is it, Steve?<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton\u2019s response: The California dream! The California spirit, which is being crushed, he says, by Becerra and his fellow Democrats. <\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra\u2019s response: The California Dream! But we can\u2019t do with someone, he says, like Hilton who\u2019s a political newbie and Trump lackey! \u201cThere are no training wheels in the governor\u2019s office,\u201d Becerra says.<\/p>\n Chabria: One minute left. Grab the mezcal. We earned it.<\/p>\n Barabak: Final question: What\u2019s one lesson from CA\u2019s past next governor should not forget?<\/p>\n Chabria: But I\u2019ll end with this — I agree with Becerra that teachers are underpaid, and agree with Hilton our schools aren\u2019t delivering.<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton: The California dream! The California spirit, which is being crushed, he says, by Becerra and his fellow Demorcrats.<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton points out, correctly, Democrats have been in charge, so Becerra needs to own it. Becerra says he\u2019ll pay teachers more.<\/p>\n Arellano: Xavier did another double-sip from his CNN cup! What\u2019s the tell there?!<\/p>\n Chabria: Better question, what\u2019s in there.<\/p>\n Arellano: I wish it was mezcal, but I\u2019ll settle for Cactus Cooler.<\/p>\n Barabak: Jake Tapper asks Becerra why, after all these years of Democratic rule, the state\u2019s schools aren\u2019t better. Becerra pledges less red tape. then pivots into attack on private\/for-profit vs public schools.<\/p>\n Arellano: Fine. Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, who ripped off their rivalry bit from Fred Allen and Jack Benny!<\/p>\n Chabria: Hilton, usually full of fight and energy, is looking deflated on stage. Feels like he knows this is a losing battle, and even his heart isn\u2019t in it. Becerra has a confidence that — I\u2019ll be honest is surprising — but shows he knows he\u2019s doing well.<\/p>\n Arellano: If anyone needed any proof I\u2019m the least hip of the LAT columnistas, my Fred Allen joke sealed the deal.<\/p>\n Chabria: And guys, please, keep it to the 21st century.<\/p>\n Arellano: I wish this debate was more Fred Allen and Jack Benny.<\/p>\n Barabak: Steve Allen?<\/p>\n Barabak: Fred Allen!<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton tonight is more Grouchy Guy than Happy Warrior.<\/p>\n Barabak: What, no Jack Paar jokes?<\/p>\n Arellano: You know that Jake Tapper knows the average age of the audience tuning in to the debate is 65 or older when he quoted Johnny Carson\u2019s famous Burbank putdown.<\/p>\n Chabria: Right, Mark? He can clearly speak when he wants.<\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra has been crisp, authoritative. Not sure why his campaign has been hiding him all this time.<\/p>\n Arellano: \u201cThis is what happens when you get to use your own facts, the alternative facts at your own hands\u201d \u2014 Becerra smacking down Hilton specifically on healthcare but really for the entire night.<\/p>\n Arellano: Mark: They\u2019re in the same town as the setting in the hella scary Steven King short story, \u201cYou Know They Got a Hell of a Band.\u201d<\/p>\n Barabak: I wouldn\u2019t mind kicking it with Elvis, Tupac, et al. Gustavo, can you introduce me to your friends?<\/p>\n Chabria: If anyone was flirting with a Hilton vote, I think this anti-vax conspiracy thread will hit hard. \u201cHe went along with the groupthink. This is why you can\u2019t trust him,\u201d says Hilton, sounding like he\u2019s in his basement on his favorite Truth Social channel.<\/p>\n Arellano: \u201cMany spoke out against it\u201d \u2014 Hilton on a few medical experts while pushing back on Becerra saying that the reason HHS under him suggested kids use masks and vax up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey, Steve: I also know a few people who think the Earth is flat and Elvis Presley is kicking it with Tupac, Jenni Rivera and Sid Vicious in an island \u2014 should I say now that it\u2019s \u201cmany\u201d?<\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra says the Biden administration didn\u2019t force anyone to get vaccinated. He said the Biden administration adhered to the best practices recommended by doctors and scientists. Not sure Hilton is helping himself by relitigating mask mandates, vaxxes and such.<\/p>\n Chabria: OMG Hilton goes full COVID conspiracy, claiming Becerra \u201cforced children to be vaccinated when there was no public health or scientific justification for that whatsoever, forcing little babies and toddlers to wear masks when there was no justification for that whatsoever.\u201d OK.<\/p>\n Arellano: And \u201cpandejo,\u201d of course, is a portmanteau of \u201cpandemic\u201d and \u201cpendejo\u201d! Becerra seems to either be suppressing a cough or hyperventilating at the bit of responding to Hilton\u2019s vaccine vacuousness.<\/p>\n Barabak: \u201cI would follow the law\u201d Hilton says when Bash follows up, then suggests he wants to give parents more choice — having it both ways. He won\u2019t repudiate Trump and won\u2019t repudiate the nutty health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/p>\n Arellano: I don\u2019t think vaccinations is at the height of concerns for most Californians, so what a tricky way for CNN to try and expose Hilton as a pandejo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Barabak: We\u2019re back! Measles, Dana Bash, says, asking Hilton about his stand on vaccinations. \u201cI\u2019m pro vaccine,\u201d Hilton says. Though he criticizes Becerra for \u201cforcing\u201d kids to be vaccinated and \u201cbabies and toddlers\u201d to mask up during the pandemic.<\/p>\n Barabak: Political competition is important. The whole checks\/balances thing. California suffers as a one-party state.<\/p>\n Arellano: Me to my pal: Has Becerra channeled his inner cholo tonight? My pal: I don\u2019t think he\u2019s brought it out, but he\u2019s been standing up stronger. He\u2019s fighting back. He not El Gallo Negro tonight, but he\u2019s fighting back.\u201d<\/p>\n For those of you who aren\u2019t from the Eastside or have no clue about SoCal culture, it\u2019s a reference to the Eastside cult classic \u201cBlood In Blood Out\u201d \u2014 go see the film after this not-bad debate!<\/p>\n Barabak: \u201cBecerra could go on vacation to Hawaii for the next month and still win. It is a shame that Democrats don\u2019t have to try harder.\u201d Agreed, Anita!<\/p>\n Barabak: If anyone was counting on Hilton making a clean, unequivocal break with Trump, they\u2019ll be sorely disappointed.<\/p>\n Barabak: What? A commercial break!?!?!<\/p>\n Chabria: Hilton voices support for Prop. 39 and says the majority of Californians want new voter ID laws, which is false. Prop. 39 is a Trump conspiracy being pushed into California law, and it says a lot that Hilton won\u2019t say it.<\/p>\n Chabria: But Hilton has a point. The Democrats do take it for granted that Becerra is going to win. Honestly, Becerra could go on vacation to Hawaii for the next month and still win. It is a shame that Democrats don\u2019t have to try harder.<\/p>\n Arellano: \u201cIt would be helpful if you would stop interrupting\u201d \u2014 Becerra to Hilton, pulling something out of the Spencer Pratt playbook in dominating how the conversation is going during the debate and getting kudos from the moderator!<\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra chides Hilton for his continued interruptions. That\u2019s not part of the rules, he says, turning and scolding him in his Dad Voice.<\/p>\n Barabak: Moderator Jake Tapper repeats a litany of Trump lies about California and the integrity of its elections. Hilton vouches for their integrity, then quickly pivots into an attack on smug Democrats who take voters for granted. \u201cAren\u2019t you tired of that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Arellano: \u201cThey take you for granted\u201d \u2014 Hilton\u2019s first true line of the night, in a rightful screed about Becerra not agreeing to more than one debate<\/p>\n Arellano: Most of this debate has been fact-checking each other and stats, stats stats. The average voter will sleep with so much of this. The anecdotes have been next to nil. Becerra brought up his parents twice; Hilton mentioned that he visited victims of the Eaton fire earlier this week and claimed that Newsom had been withholding about $2 billion in funds, ignoring Becerra\u2019s allegation that Trump has held back about $30 billion. Gimme personal anecdotes, Californians scream.<\/p>\n Barabak: There. Better.<\/p>\n Barabak: Excuse me, comrades, while I go put on a tie.<\/p>\n Barabak: And Becerra replies, Trump, Trump, Trump.<\/p>\n Barabak: Give Becerra credit. The way he talks, you wouldn\u2019t know Democrats have been in charge in California for years. Chabria: Gustavo, yes! Ban the open shirt, please! It does not send the message men think it is sending.<\/p>\n Chabria: Becerra brings up the price of diesel, which is an underground crisis that is brewing, especially in California. Independent truck drivers are being squeezed because they get paid by the load, regardless of gas prices. In a big state like California, there are a lot of drivers suffering under diesel prices.<\/p>\n Arellano: Hot take: ban male electoral candidates from the open-collar look. From Hilton to Michigan U.S. Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed to Santa Ana council aspirant Giovanni Chavez, it\u2019s as thin a macho flex out as tires after a street takeover<\/p>\n Barabak: And… we\u2019re done with climate change. On to homelessness! Sixty minutes doesn\u2019t allow for a lot of deep-diving.<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton is not climate-change denying, but he\u2019s denying any sacrifice or significant changes would be needed to halt the planet\u2019s continued heating and disasters like California\u2019s abundant wildfires. Would be nice to square that circle. But dubious.<\/p>\n Chabria: And enough of immigration! On to the climate. Hilton says it makes no sense to import oil, which may resonate with me at least, because I just paid $111 dollars to fill my gas tank.<\/p>\n Arellano: \u201cXavier no se esta dejando,\u201d I tell my Eastside pal. He\u2019s not backing down. \u201cNope,\u201d my friend said as he downed his Mountain Dew and we both gorged on Sun Chips.<\/p>\n Barabak: Trump, Trump, Trump.<\/p>\n Chabria: Latino voters, even men (who strongly supported Trump) are thinking twice about their support for Trump. I don\u2019t think Hilton\u2019s argument here trying to redirect to Becerra\u2019s HHS time will work. Hilton refuses to say how he would protect immigrants if he were governor, and folks, this is a state of immigrants.<\/p>\n Barabak: When Hilton brings up the controversy over \u201clost\u201d immigrant kids during Becerra\u2019s reign as Biden\u2019s health and human services secretary, Becerra brushes if off as old news and stale \u201cTrump talking points.\u201d Hilton points out, correctly, it was a New York Times investigation that surfaced the controversy. <\/p>\n Arellano: Becerra began drinking from a CNN-logoed hot cup as Hilton brought up a favorite conservative talking point: that hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors disappeared while he was HHS secretary. Becerra took another gulp before calling it a \u201cretread Trump talking points,\u201d with Hilton bringing up the New York Times AND Antonio Villaraigosa to back up his argument \u2014 maybe the last time a Trumper will use two liberal lions to beat down a Democrat.<\/p>\n Chabria: \u201cI am not for treating immigrants like animals,\u201d Becerra says. Hilton tries to redirect to Becerra\u2019s record at HHS but I think Californians will hear what Becerra said. \u201cIt is good to have a regulated system of immigrants to come into our country, including California, and that\u2019s something that I have always pushed for. It is bad when immigrants are being separated from their children. It\u2019s bad when immigrants are being killed indiscriminately. It\u2019s bad when U.S. citizens are dying through these immigration raids.\u201d Hilton refuses to say the same.<\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra \u2014 asked about Trump\u2019s success sealing the border after the leaky policies of President Biden \u2014 says he\u2019s for border enforcement, but not violating the Constitution and \u201cnot treating immigrants like animals.\u201d<\/p>\n Barabak: Jujitsu move by Hilton: \u201cAll you says is Trump, Trump, Trump. That\u2019s an insult to Californians\u201d who want change vs more of the same.<\/p>\n Chabria: \u201cYou seem to welcome immigrants who look like you, but deport immigrants who look like me,\u201d Becerra hits at Hilton. \u201cWe need to have a governor who will protect everyone who works hard.\u201d Hilton calls it a disgraceful remark. But it\u2019s reality that we are welcoming white South Africans and deporting brown people, and Hilton refuses to acknowledge it.<\/p>\n Barabak: Given an opportunity to repudiate Trump\u2019s heavy-handed immigration enforcement, Hilton declines. Says he wants to \u201clower the temperature\u201d by deporting criminals, not, say, landscapers and folks running taco stands. Then says it\u2019s liberal Democrats who are keeping that from happening.<\/p>\n Chabria: Gentlemen, lighten up. We thought this was going to be unwatchably boring. Hilton, who as you say, Gustavo, is full of British bluster, is at least pushing answers out of Becerra, who has in fact dodged press for weeks.<\/p>\n Barabak: Refs are letting them play, as they should.<\/p>\n Arellano: See, I see Hilton flopping. He\u2019s British \u2014 they\u2019re legends in roasting. He\u2019s roasting with all the grace and wit of Trump. Maybe I would be more forgiving if it was HIS \u201cbitch ass\u201d quote, not that of someone else<\/p>\n Barabak: Fact Check, Anita. She did! https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-05-31\/california-governors-race-becerra-attack-from-washington-insiders<\/a><\/p>\n Chabria: Honestly, I had such a low bar for how interesting this debate was going to be, and it has come through in both content and information. Hilton is good at roasting. The moderators have been mostly silent.<\/p>\n Chabria: Yes! Hilton says Susan Rice called Becerra a \u201cbitch ass.\u201d I will soon fact-check and make sure Rice really did call Becerra \u201cbitch ass.\u201d<\/p>\n Barabak: I\u2019ve been covering California politics, and political debates, for 40+ years and first time, Gustavo, I can recollect \u201cbitch-ass\u201d coming up in conversation. (Apart from the press gallery)<\/p>\n Arellano: Is this the first mention of \u201cbitch ass\u201d during a California gubernatorial debate?<\/p>\n Barabak: Hilton demands to know how much money Becerra has taken from Big Tech. Becerra parries by noting as attorney general he sued many of Silicon Valley\u2019s giants.<\/p>\n Arellano: First mention of Donald Trump by Becerra \u2014 another drinking game my compa and I could play, but I need to keep my liver for a few more decades, so no thanks!<\/p>\n Barabak: \u201cIf you listen closely, you\u2019ll hear Donald Trump in that Steve Hilton response\u201d in re AI, Becerra replies. And he\u2019s not wrong.<\/p>\n Chabria: Hilton points out the obvious \u2014 this state is economically dependent on the tech industry, especially AI, for our economy. Hilton bobs and weaves on whether he backs Trump and would let companies make their own rules. Becerra attacks \u2014 but misses the point. Talking about specific groups that need protection like workers. But the real question is do we force them to stop releasing unsafe models.<\/p>\n Barabak: More explicitly, Hilton is asked by moderator Dana Bash if he seconds President Trump\u2019s plan to let AI companies police themselves. He won\u2019t say.<\/p>\n Barabak: Pressed by Bash in a follow-up, Hilton responds, \u201cWe\u2019ll have to see\u201d<\/p>\n Arellano: Becerra is doing something that I always remember Obama doing that I really didn\u2019t see him do during the primary: write on a notepad while his opponent is yammering on. It\u2019s a total power move \u2014 instead of grinning and grimacing like Hilton does, Becerra is playing up that Stanford studiousness that has been a hallmark of his career<\/p>\n Chabria: AI! Will it kill us all or save us? Discuss!<\/p>\n Chabria: I think Becerra is saying build. I think the difference is where and how. Hilton is saying build in new places, don\u2019t force density.<\/p>\n Arellano: Becerra goes for the jugular against Hilton by invoking Huntington Beach! As I wrote earlier this year, Hilton kicked off his campaign at the Surf City pier and has tried to channel the momentum of the city\u2019s MAGA super-majority to fuel his campaign. Hilton demanded to know how Becerra had tried to cut the red tape when it comes to housing; Becerra responded that he sued HB over refusing to build affordable housing \u201cand won.\u201d BURN<\/p>\n Barabak: Pressed on how much housing California would build under his administration, Hilton demurred, saying there have been too many \u201ctop-down targets\u201d previous governors have failed to meet. He is not wrong.<\/p>\n Arellano: Early ideological divide between Becerra and Hilton on housing: Hilton says build, build, build, Becerra blames the billionaire class for buying up homes as investments and driving up housing value.<\/p>\n Chabria: Hilton suggests building out instead of up because we have \u201cso much space that we could be building in in California.\u201d This is actually a conservative land-use policy that protects single-family homes and suburbs. It\u2019s cloaked language, but a nod to NIMBYs.<\/p>\n Arellano: What a concept by Hilton: build 10 new cities. Um, isn\u2019t that what Eastvale and California City was?<\/p>\n Barabak: \u201cYou\u2019re going to end up with Trump results if you follow Hilton\u2019s policies,\u201d Becerra says, and there\u2019s his campaign strategy in a nutshell.<\/p>\n Arellano: I\u2019m deep in the Eastside at my friend\u2019s house, and I suggested we do a drinking game: a shot of mezcal every time Becerra brings up his parents, and a shot every time Hilton does a fake giggle. \u201cI need food in me before we get that drunk,\u201d my friend said. We\u2019re drinking Cactus Cooler instead.<\/p>\n Chabria: \u201cThank you to CNN for bringing Ha-Vee-Air out of hiding,\u201d quips Hilton, and you know what? Yes, thank you CNN! Please now teach Hilton how to say Xavier.<\/p>\n Barabak: Becerra right away lays down the man o\u2019 the people card, noting his parents came to California with just $12 and prospered. (He\u2019s not running against Tom $teyer, as he was in the Democratic primary, but never hurts to emphathize with working folk.)<\/p>\n Chabria: Becerra in a conservative red tie; Hilton with his trademark unbuttoned shirt. Becerra seems to be drinking coffee. Long day?<\/p>\n Barabak: Starting out, the candidates behind their lecterns. So unclear if they shook hands beforehand.<\/p>\n Barabak: Leading into the debate, dramatic CNN announcer voice tries to hype the stakes. But, let\u2019s face it, Hilton is an exceeding longshot.<\/p>\n Chabria: Let me start things off by saying my hope is that Hilton will push Becerra into specifics around issues including affordability<\/a>, what we\u2019re going to do about the coming Medicaid cliff<\/a>, housing<\/a> and education. California has been focused on raising up our most vulnerable and struggling residents for years \u2014 which is important. <\/p>\n But the middle class is suffering now, too, in all those areas. Hilton is right that the status quo isn\u2019t working. That\u2019s going to be a challenge for Becerra when he gets into office (and honestly, he could vacation in Hawaii until November and still get elected), so I\u2019ll be looking for answers on how he plans to lift all boats. <\/p>\n Barabak: There will be much critiquing to come, so let me start by paying both gentleman a compliment.<\/p>\n Hilton has been campaigning hard, as though he has more than the merest speck of a chance of pulling an epic upset and somehow prevailing. Good for him!<\/p>\n And Becerra, who\u2019s made himself exceedingly scarce, is stepping up and debating, as he should<\/a>. And he\u2019s not being cute about it, insisting on, say, a midnight appearance on local cable TV in Alturas. So props for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s so insulting,\u201d Hilton said, expecting Californians just to keep voting the way they\u2019ve been voting and expect all the state\u2019s problems to be solved.<\/p>\n