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Democrat Xavier Becerra pledged on Tuesday to participate in more than one debate against Steve Hilton, his GOP rival in the California governor\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will have debates, and between now and Nov. 3, we will continue to go out there and meet with folks to make sure they have an opportunity to see the candidates,\u201d Becerra told reporters after greeting business owners, community leaders and voters in a walking tour of Little Tokyo. \u201cVoters need to have good information. We\u2019ll make sure they have it, and there will be debates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hilton has been needling Becerra for not being as publicly visible on the campaign trail since the two men advanced in the June primary. The British-born conservative strategist and political commentator raises chickens at his Silicon Valley home and has said he named one of them \u201cXavier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cXavier Becerra wants to be governor while dodging questions from the press and a debate with me,\u201d Hilton posted on the social media platform X earlier this month.\u201dWhat else do you expect from a lazy, arrogant, entitled \u2018empty suit\u2019 36-year machine politician.\u201d<\/p>\n
Becerra held a 55% to 37% lead over Hilton in a UC Berkeley\/L.A. Times poll released Thursday. The margin is unsurprising given the edge that Democrats have in voter registration over Republicans in a state that last elected GOP politicians to statewide office in 2006.<\/p>\n
As the campaign for California governor heads into the general election, Democrat Xavier Becerra maintains a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton, according to a new poll.<\/p>\n
Becerra, asked Tuesday about Hilton\u2019s criticism that he was \u201ccoasting\u201d to election in the November general election to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom, rejected the notion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if I were trying to coast, I\u2019d be out on the coast right now instead of here with you all and making a nice visit to Little Tokyo,\u201d he said outside of an Asian-fusion gastropub on an oppressively hot, muggy afternoon. \u201cListen, this is all about making sure voters have a choice. We\u2019ll get out there and make sure we\u2019re front and center with them … even if it\u2019s a little hot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are competing in the race for California governor. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the candidates.<\/p>\n
Becerra spoke with reporters after visiting Little Tokyo businesses and chatting with locals and visitors.<\/p>\n
When a group of young women pledged to vote for him in the gubernatorial race, Becerra urged them to vote against Proposition 39, a ballot measure that would require Californians to provide government-issued identification when voting and election officials to verify registered voters are U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease vote against that. That would deter people from voting,\u201d Becerra said, making a thumbs-down gesture. \u201cI\u2019m not joking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Becerra later told reporters that the proposition, which likely California voters oppose, according to polls, is a direct attack on the state\u2019s elections by President Trump.<\/p>\n