‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’ Democrats’ hold on California and other takeaways from the governor debate
CNN
By Eric Bradner, Patrick Svitek, CNN
(CNN) — Xavier Becerra, the Democratic favorite in California’s race for governor, sought to tie his Republican opponent Steve Hilton to the policies of President Donald Trump as the two debated Wednesday night on CNN.
“You’re going to end up with Trump results if you follow Steve Hilton’s plan,” the former secretary of Health and Human Services and state attorney general said.
Hilton, the ex-Fox News host and British political operative, sought to avoid being tied too closely to Trump while arguing that Democrats who have full control of the state’s government in Sacramento deserve the blame for making it “impossible for regular, working people to live in this state anymore.”
“All you’re offering is more of the same backed by the same corrupt machine in Sacramento,” he said.
The two squared off in what’s likely to be their only debate ahead of the race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in the nation’s most populous state — home to about 12% of all Americans — and one on the frontlines of a number of major issues confronting the country, including the cost of living and housing prices, rampant homelessness, natural disasters and the rise of artificial intelligence being developed largely in California’s Silicon Valley.
Here are takeaways from their debate:
‘Trump, Trump, Trump’
Becerra’s strategy was obvious from the debate’s first minutes: Tie Hilton to Trump at every possible opportunity.
He compared Hilton’s proposed tax cuts — including eliminating state income taxes on the first $150,000 Californians earn, along with a flat 8% tax rate on income above that level — to those enacted by Trump, and claimed Hilton is “proposing Trump tax cuts, believing you’re going to get better results.”
Then, on artificial intelligence, Becerra compared Hilton’s noncommittal answer on whether companies developing it should be governed by state regulations to Trump securing a “pinky promise” from AI giants to self-police at a White House luncheon earlier this week.
“All you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’” Hilton said. “And that’s nothing but an insult to every Californian who is desperate for something to change in this state, and all you’re offering is more of the same.”
Hilton, meanwhile, had to wrestle with a series of Trump policies that are deeply unpopular in California — particularly the president’s immigration enforcement efforts.
He sought to use the issue to distance himself from Trump, saying that his “goal would be to lower the temperature on this whole question.” But Becerra wouldn’t let him move on; he highlighted Hilton’s past praise for Trump’s moves, saying Hilton as governor would enforce “Trump’s laws” rather than the state’s laws.
On affordability, attacks on Hilton’s math and Becerra’s record
Becerra and Hilton diverged sharply on the top issue for California voters: the cost of living.
After Hilton pitched sweeping tax cuts for Californians, Becerra argued the cuts would disproportionately benefit the wealthy and “damage our state even further.” He added that Hilton’s “math doesn’t add up.”
On housing, Hilton announced a new proposal to cap government fees for construction at $50,000. Becerra similarly promised to “cut red tape,” but Hilton challenged him on his housing record as state attorney general.
Becerra pointed out that he sued the city of Huntington Beach in 2019 for failing to require the state’s requirements for affordable housing. Hilton nonetheless scoffed.
“The definition of insanity is believing that the people who put the red tape in place are somehow going to cut it,” Hilton said.
Who’s tougher on AI?
Both candidates grappled with the rise of artificial intelligence, an especially pressing issue in the state that’s home to Silicon Valley.
Hilton said his first priorities for AI were to make sure the industry’s jobs remain in California and that the technology itself does not harm children. He reiterated his call for an “immediate pause” on AI in classrooms.
Hilton avoided saying whether he agreed with Trump’s support for “self-policing” by the AI industry, a position the president endorsed Tuesday after a White House meeting with executives. That gave Becerra another opening to tie Hilton to Trump.
“If you listen closely, you can hear Donald Trump in that response by Steve Hilton,” Becerra said. “He’s not interested in regulating AI.”
As for data centers, the candidates gave more measured responses. Becerra said they should be decided on a community-by-community basis.
“If all you’re going to do is rob their energy and electricity and their water,” Becerra said, “that’s not a good deal.”
Hilton takes big swings; Becerra plays it safe
In the debate’s opening minutes, Hilton thanked CNN for “bringing Xavier out of hiding,” chiding his Democratic foe for his much more cautious approach to the campaign.
There’s truth in Hilton’s barb. Becerra has largely avoided interviews and unscripted moments in his risk-averse campaign, while Hilton has cut a bevy of social media videos from gas stations, appeared on liberal podcasts and made a series of flashy campaign promises — all but ignoring the reality that those proposals would run into a political buzzsaw in the Democratic-dominated state legislature.
Those approaches reflect the reality of the race. Polls have consistently shown Becerra with a massive lead — giving him reason to play it safe and avoid making promises that could haunt him years later, while also incentivizing Hilton to take big swings on the campaign trail to try to reach Democrats and independents he’d need to win in the deep-blue state.
Hilton tried to hammer Becerra over his time in former President Joe Biden’s Cabinet, including his department’s handling of a record surge of unaccompanied migrant minors who arrived at the US-Mexico border. He also criticized the Becerra-led HHS for its guidance on masks and vaccines.
“This is why you can’t trust him: Because he’s been a bureaucrat and a career politician all his life, and he goes along with the groupthink instead of actually standing up for facts,” Hilton said.
But Hilton’s biggest blow might have come when he raised criticism from fellow Democratic members of Biden’s administration — particularly Susan Rice, Biden’s domestic policy adviser, whose particularly harsh description of Becerra was reported by Axios at the time.
“She described you as an ‘idiot.’ She called you ‘bitch-ass.’ Why did Susan Rice, a respected political leader, call you an idiot?” Hilton asked Becerra.
Becerra responded that he “helped create millions of jobs” during his time in Congress, as California’s attorney general and as HHS secretary.
“Since when do I have to respond to politicians? I’m running for governor of California. I’m looking for the vote of California voters, not some politician in Washington, DC,” Becerra said.
Saving Hollywood
Becerra and Hilton clashed on their approach to another industry that is crucial to California: Hollywood.
With other states offering better incentives for film production, Becerra promised to “do everything I can” to keep the industry booming in California.
“We’ve got to fight to keep Hollywood in Hollywood,” Becerra said, adding that he has a simple rule for assessing potential new incentives. “If we give a tax credit, so long as we got more than one dollar back for that dollar in tax credit, we’re going to do it.”
Hilton used the question to again paint the problem as a result of one-party rule in California.
“Who’s been in charge when all those jobs have gone?” he asked. “The Democrats.”
Becerra scoffed at the suggestion he does not have a strong record helping the film industry, noting he served in Congress when the first federal film incentive was passed.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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