Tag

Xavier Becerra

All articles tagged with #xavier becerra

politics8 days ago•10 min saved

Hilton frames California homelessness as political scandal amid Skid Row drug crackdown

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton toured Los Angeles' Skid Row on October 9, 2026, labeling the state's homelessness issue a 'political scandal' rather than a crisis. He accused Democratic leaders of failing to address the problem despite billions in taxpayer spending, blaming government-funded nonprofits and developers for profiting from the status quo. The visit coincided with a federal drug raid in the area and intensified campaign attacks on Democrat Xavier Becerra ahead of the November 3 election.

via Fox News|

#california #homelessness #politics

politics14 days ago•21 min saved

Hilton's Suggestive 'Just Try It' Ad Sparks Backlash Among California Republicans

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton released a sexually suggestive ad titled 'Just Try It, California' to court liberal voters, but the move triggered sharp criticism from conservative allies. The ad, which features two women in a dimly lit room with a Pride flag, uses sexual innuendo to encourage mail-in voting for Hilton. While Hilton argues the tactic is necessary to break through in a deep-blue state, figures like Sonja Shaw and Michael Gates condemned it as 'creepy' and 'disturbing.' The controversy highlights a strategic rift within the California GOP, as Hilton trails Democrat Xavier Becerra by a wide margin in polls.

via CalMatters|

#2026-midterms #california-governor-race #campaign-ads

politics15 days ago

Hilton's 'Just Try It' Ad Sparks Fierce Backlash Within GOP Base

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton faces severe internal party backlash over a sexually suggestive campaign ad titled 'Just Try It, California.' The spot, which features two women in a bedroom setting, has drawn condemnation from fellow GOP nominees who call it exploitative and 'creepy.' While Hilton defends the ad as a provocative strategy to attract non-Republican voters in the deep blue state, the controversy has fractured his coalition. He trails Democrat Xavier Becerra by a significant margin in the polls, with the race now less than a month away.

via The Guardian|

#2026-midterms #california-governor #politics

politics15 days ago•26 min saved

Post-debate poll shows California governor race tightening as 14% of voters remain undecided

A new poll commissioned by Steve Hilton’s campaign shows Democrat Xavier Becerra’s lead in the California governor’s race has narrowed to 5.6 points, down from a 15-point margin in an earlier survey. Conducted by pollster David Wolfson on October 1-2, the survey found 45.7% support for Becerra and 40.1% for Hilton, with 14.1% undecided. While 58.8% of voters believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, Becerra retains a 72.5% lean among undecided voters. The race remains competitive despite Becerra’s lower favorable rating, as Hilton leverages voter frustration with high costs and Democratic leadership.

via nypost.com|

#2026-election #california-governor #politics

$Hilton's viral 'Just Try It' ad fractures GOP coalition in California governor's race$

politics16 days ago•6 min saved

Hilton's viral 'Just Try It' ad fractures GOP coalition in California governor's race

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton released a sexually suggestive ad featuring two women to reach voters who might otherwise avoid Republican candidates. The spot, which has garnered millions of views, has triggered a split in the Republican coalition, with some allies condemning it as exploitative while others defend it as a creative outreach strategy. Hilton trails Democrat Xavier Becerra by a significant margin in recent polls.

via latimes.com|

#2026-midterms #california-governor-race #campaign-ads

politics19 days ago•2 min saved

Becerra ties Hilton to Trump in final California debate as polling gap widens

Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton held their likely final debate before the November 3 election, with Becerra leveraging his massive polling lead to repeatedly link Hilton to Donald Trump’s unpopular policies. Hilton attempted to distance himself from the president while attacking Democratic control of Sacramento, but analysts noted his efforts were insufficient to overcome the 18-point deficit. The debate highlighted deep divisions on immigration, AI regulation, and cost of living, with Becerra portraying Hilton as a proxy for federal overreach and Hilton framing the race as a revolt against 'The Machine.'

via Politico|

#california-governor #immigration #politics

politics19 days ago•8 min saved

Becerra dominates California governor debate, leaving Hilton’s Trump-tied strategy ineffective

In a 60-minute CNN debate in Burbank, Democrat Xavier Becerra was widely viewed as the clear winner over Republican Steve Hilton. While Hilton attempted to link California’s issues to Democratic rule, analysts noted he failed to distance himself from President Trump. Becerra, though criticized for lacking a forward-looking vision, effectively defended his record and maintained his significant polling lead ahead of the November 3 election.

via Los Angeles Times|

#2026-midterms #california-governor-race #cnn-debate

politics19 days ago•25 min saved

Becerra and Hilton clash on taxes, AI, and immigration in final California debate

In the first and likely only televised debate before the November 3 election, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton traded sharp attacks on taxes, immigration, and AI. Held in Burbank, the debate highlighted Becerra’s strategy of linking Hilton to President Trump and Hilton’s focus on breaking from 16 years of Democratic rule. While Becerra leads polls by a wide margin, Hilton pushed for regulatory changes in housing and AI, drawing criticism for his low-profile opponent’s lack of policy detail.

via CNN|

#2026-election #california-governor #cnn-debate

politics1 month ago•3 min saved

Becerra widens lead to 22 points as PPIC poll shows California voters split on billionaire tax

A new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra widening his lead over Republican Steve Hilton to 22 points in the November gubernatorial race. While Becerra holds a commanding advantage among likely voters, the same survey reveals a divided electorate on the controversial billionaire wealth tax, with majorities supporting both the tax and measures to invalidate it.

via New York Post|

#california-governor-election #politics #ppic-poll

politics1 month ago

Hilton’s DMV Abolition Plan Faces Legislative and Budgetary Hurdles

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has pledged to abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and cap annual vehicle registration fees at $73 if elected. While the proposal aims to cut costs for drivers, it faces significant obstacles, including Democratic supermajorities in the state legislature and concerns over the resulting revenue shortfall.

via theguardian.com|

#2026-election #california-dmv #politics

politics1 month ago•2 min saved

Hilton vows to dismantle DMV, slash fees to $73 in bid to cut costs

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has proposed abolishing the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and capping annual vehicle registration fees at $73. He argues the current system is a 'bloated' bureaucracy that gouges residents, proposing to shift routine services to county offices and online platforms. While the plan aims to reduce state revenue from $11 billion to $2.7 billion, critics warn it could compromise safety and funding for roads and the California Highway Patrol. Hilton claims he can persuade the Democratic-controlled Legislature to support the move, framing it as a necessary step to lower the cost of living in a state with some of the highest registration fees in the nation.

via CalMatters|

#2026-governor-race #california-dmv #politics

politics1 month ago•5 min saved

Hilton Vows to Abolish California DMV, Slash Registration Fees to $73

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has proposed abolishing the California Department of Motor Vehicles and reducing annual vehicle registration fees to a flat $73. The plan aims to cut state bureaucracy and lower living costs but would reduce state revenue from approximately $11 billion to $2.7 billion annually. While Hilton claims he can secure legislative support, Democratic opponent Xavier Becerra’s campaign argues the proposal is politically unviable and risks road safety.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #dmv #politics

politics2 months ago•4 min saved

House Oversight Targets Becerra Over Alleged Concealment of Fauci’s Pandemic Records

House Oversight Chairman James Comer has formally accused former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra of withholding Dr. Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era diary and cellphone from Congress. The committee alleges that despite a November 2023 request for records containing specific keywords, HHS failed to produce or even acknowledge the existence of these documents. The records were only released earlier this year by current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Senate investigators. Comer has demanded answers from Becerra, who is currently a candidate for California governor, regarding whether he intentionally concealed the materials or failed to conduct adequate searches. This development follows Fauci’s recent Senate hearing, where he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times, and comes amid a broader scrutiny of pandemic-era decision-making and record-keeping by the Biden administration.

via Fox News|

#anthony-fauci #covid-19-records #house-oversight-committee

politics2 months ago•5 min saved

Becerra’s California Lead Narrows as Hilton Gains Ground in New Governor Poll

A Berkeley/LA Times poll of 2,310 likely California voters (Aug. 3–9) finds Democrat Xavier Becerra ahead of Republican Steve Hilton 55%–37% in the governor’s race, but his lead has narrowed from 25 points to 18 as Hilton edges up. Becerra leads in Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, and the Central Coast, while Hilton leads in the San Joaquin Valley and North Coast/Sierra; Orange County and the Inland Empire are closely contested. Analysts call the shift normal movement, noting Becerra’s strong Democratic backing and broader support among independents/nonpartisans, even as Hilton retains GOP support. The race comes amid ongoing campaign scrutiny and limited public appearances from Becerra.

via New York Post|

#california #governor-election-2026 #politics

politics2 months ago•26 min saved

California Democrats back billionaire tax, fueling intra-party clash with Newsom and Becerra

At its San Diego convention, the California Democratic Party endorsed Proposition 40—a one-time 5% tax on about 200 billionaires, expected to raise around $100 billion for healthcare funding—over the objections of Gov. Newsom and gubernatorial candidate Becerra, highlighting a split within the party as the measure heads to the November ballot.

via New York Post|

#billionaire-tax #california-politics #gavin-newsom