CNN hosts California gubernatorial debate ahead of critical midterm contest

About tonight's debate

• CNN is hosting a California gubernatorial debate between Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton, just weeks before Election Day as voters in the nation’s most populous state decide who will succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The top concern on voters’ minds is the cost of living — and both campaigns have largely oriented their policy platforms around addressing it.

• Becerra, a former Health and Human Services secretary, has been pitching himself as the experienced choice to voters, while Hilton, a Trump-endorsed Republican, has blamed Democratic leadership for high costs in the state.

• The two candidates emerged among a crowded field of contenders in the primary election in June, but Hilton faces an uphill climb in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican governor in 20 years.

• Stream the debate live at 9 p.m. ET with an All Access subscription.

Takeaways from when Becerra and Hilton took part in a crowded debate in May

At the last California gubernatorial debate in May , seven candidates were working to distinguish themselves in a crowded field.

Now two of them, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra, are taking the stage tonight, this time trying to convince voters they are the best person to lead the state.

Many of the candidates during the May debate went after Becerra, who seemed to emerge as the frontrunner after Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race following sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies. They also went after the two Republicans on the stage, including Hilton.

Revisit Becerra and Hilton’s last debate performance:

Becerra blamed the state’s problems on President Donald Trump, saying gas prices are up due to the war in Iran and grocery costs are high because of tariffs. Hilton, meantime, blamed the issues on Democrats and the state’s Democratic leadership.

Becerra was asked whether he still supports a single-payer, government-funded healthcare system. The former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has supported single-payer for decades, but KQED reported he backtracked as he sought the endorsement from the California Medical Association. During the debate, Becerra tried to push back on claims he was distancing himself from Medicare for All.

Becerra also faced criticism over a case involving his former chief of staff, who pleaded guilty last year to charges related to the theft of Becerra campaign funds. Becerra has not been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to the case, but Hilton accused Becerra of being “mired, personally, in a corruption scandal.” Becerra told Hilton to read the indictment. “I was not involved in the action,” Becerra said.

Though Trump has endorsed him, Hilton treaded carefully around the topic of the president, perhaps recognizing how unpopular Trump is in deep-blue California.

Hilton reiterated his belief that the governor should be focused on working with the president, regardless of party. But he otherwise sought to stay out of the fray as the Democratic candidates bashed Trump and invoked the endorsement.

In one exchange, Becerra said “Donald Trump’s his daddy, and he will protect him all the way through.” Hilton said he didn’t “want to respond to silly name-calling,” before changing the topic.

Meet Republican Steve Hilton, who wants to defy odds in California

Republican Steve Hilton is an unconventional political figure who went from being a political adviser in the United Kingdom to hosting a show on Fox News to becoming a CEO.

Now he is looking to add “California governor” to his resume. Hilton finished second in the gubernatorial primary, advancing to the general election where he will take on Democrat Xavier Becerra.

Eventually, he served as a senior adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California in 2012, where he co-founded a crowdfunding platform.

He became a US citizen in 2021, according to CNN affiliate KABC .

Hilton’s campaign faces a steep climb in a state with about 4.6 million more registered Democrats than there are Republicans, according to recent voter registration statistics.

President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Hilton. “With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post , endorsing Hilton in April.

How to watch tonight's California gubernatorial debate

CNN will host a California gubernatorial debate tonight, just weeks before Election Day, as voters in the nation’s most populous state decide who will succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The one-hour debate between Democrat Xavier Becerra , who served as Health and Human Services secretary during the Biden administration, and Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, will take place at 9 p.m. ET (6p.m. PT).

CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the event, which will take place in the Los Angeles area.

How to watch: The debate will stream live for CNN’s streaming and pay TV subscribers via CNN.com , CNN connected TV and mobile apps.

Following the live event, the debate will be available on demand to CNN’s streaming and pay TV subscribers via CNN.com , CNN connected TV and mobile apps, and Cable Operator Platforms.

Read here for more about what to expect from the candidates tonight.

关于今晚的辩论

• 距离加州州长选举日仅剩几周，CNN将举办一场由泽维尔·贝塞拉和史蒂夫·希尔顿参加的辩论。加州是美国人口最多的州，选民们将决定谁将接替民主党州长加文·纽森。选民们最关心的问题是生活成本——两位候选人的竞选纲领也主要围绕解决这一问题展开。

• 前卫生与公众服务部部长贝塞拉一直标榜自己是经验丰富的候选人，而获得特朗普支持的共和党人希尔顿则指责民主党领导层造成了该州的高昂医疗成本。

• 这两位候选人在 6 月份的初选中从众多竞争者中脱颖而出，但希尔顿在一个 20 年没有选出共和党州长的州面临着艰难的挑战。

• 订阅 All Access 即可在美国东部时间晚上 9 点观看辩论直播。

贝塞拉和希尔顿五月份参与一场人头攒动的辩论时，有哪些值得关注的要点？

在五月份举行的加州州长候选人辩论中，七位候选人都在努力从众多竞争者中脱颖而出。

现在，共和党人史蒂夫·希尔顿和民主党人泽维尔·贝塞拉今晚将登上舞台，这一次他们试图说服选民，自己才是领导该州的最佳人选。

在五月份的辩论中，许多候选人都对贝塞拉发起攻击。此前，众议员埃里克·斯瓦尔韦尔因性行为不端指控退出竞选，但他否认了这些指控。贝塞拉似乎因此成为领跑者。他们还攻击了台上两位共和党人，其中包括希尔顿。

回顾贝塞拉和希尔顿在上次辩论中的表现：

贝塞拉将该州的问题归咎于唐纳德·特朗普总统，称伊朗战争导致汽油价格上涨，而关税则导致食品杂货价格高企。与此同时，希尔顿则将这些问题归咎于民主党及其领导层。

贝塞拉被问及是否仍然支持全民医保（Medicare for All）制度。这位美国前卫生与公众服务部部长几十年来一直支持全民医保，但据KQED报道，他在寻求加州医学协会的支持时态度有所转变。在辩论中，贝塞拉试图反驳有关他正在疏远全民医保的说法。

贝塞拉还因其前任幕僚长涉嫌盗窃贝塞拉竞选资金一案而受到批评。该幕僚长去年承认了相关指控。贝塞拉本人并未因该案受到任何指控，但希尔顿指责贝塞拉“个人深陷腐败丑闻”。贝塞拉让希尔顿去读起诉书。“我没有参与此事，”贝塞拉说。

尽管特朗普已经公开支持他，但希尔顿在谈到这位总统时却小心翼翼，或许是意识到特朗普在深蓝的加利福尼亚州有多么不受欢迎。

希尔顿重申，他认为州长应该专注于与总统合作，而不应受党派影响。但除此之外，他试图置身事外，避免卷入民主党候选人抨击特朗普并援引其背书的争论中。

在一次交锋中，贝塞拉说：“唐纳德·特朗普是他爹，他会一直保护他。”希尔顿表示他“不想回应这种愚蠢的人身攻击”，然后转移了话题。

来认识一下共和党人史蒂夫·希尔顿，他想在加利福尼亚州逆势而上。

共和党人史蒂夫·希尔顿是一位非传统的政治人物，他从英国的政治顾问一路奋斗，最终成为福克斯新闻的节目主持人，并最终成为一名首席执行官。

现在，他希望在履历上再添一笔“加州州长”的头衔。希尔顿在州长初选中位列第二，晋级大选，将与民主党候选人泽维尔·贝塞拉展开角逐。

最终，他担任了英国前首相戴维·卡梅伦的高级顾问，之后于 2012 年移居加利福尼亚州，在那里与人共同创办了一个众筹平台。

据 CNN 附属电视台 KABC 报道，他于 2021 年成为美国公民。

根据最近的选民登记统计数据，希尔顿在该州的竞选之路将面临严峻挑战，因为该州注册的民主党人比共和党人多出约 460 万。

唐纳德·特朗普总统公开支持希尔顿。“有了联邦政府的帮助，再加上像史蒂夫·希尔顿这样一位伟大的州长，加州将会比以往任何时候都更加美好！”特朗普在四月份通过Truth Social网站发帖为希尔顿背书时写道。

如何观看今晚的加州州长辩论

CNN 今晚将举办加州州长辩论，距离选举日仅剩几周时间，美国人口最多的州的选民将决定谁将接替民主党州长加文·纽森。

民主党候选人泽维尔·贝塞拉（曾任拜登政府卫生与公众服务部部长）和共和党候选人史蒂夫·希尔顿（前福克斯新闻主持人）之间的一小时辩论将于美国东部时间晚上 9 点（太平洋时间下午 6 点）举行。

CNN主播杰克·塔珀和达娜·巴什将主持此次活动，活动将在洛杉矶地区举行。

观看方式：CNN 的流媒体和付费电视用户可以通过 CNN.com、CNN 联网电视和移动应用程序观看辩论直播。

直播结束后，CNN 的流媒体和付费电视用户可以通过 CNN.com、CNN 联网电视和移动应用程序以及有线电视运营商平台点播观看辩论。

点击这里了解更多今晚候选人发言的相关信息。