Becerra pledges to debate Hilton — more than once — between now and Nov. 3
-
asserted
Becerra → pledge → Nov.
- Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Xavier Becerra, facing criticism from GOP rival Steve Hilton for a lack of public visibility since the primary election, pledged to face the Republican in multiple debates before the Nov. 3 general election to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
asserted
Becerra → face → Newsom
A new UC Berkeley/L.A. Times poll shows Becerra leading Hilton 55% to 37% in heavily Democratic California, where Republicans last won statewide office in 2006.
asserted
Republicans → show → 2006
- Becerra visited Little Tokyo during the Nisei Week festival, highlighting ties to a community he represented while in Congress.
asserted
he → visit → Congress
Democrat Xavier Becerra pledged on Tuesday to participate in more than one debate against Steve Hilton, his GOP rival in the California governor’s race.
asserted
Becerra → pledge → race
“We 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,” Becerra told reporters after greeting business owners, community leaders and voters in a walking tour of Little Tokyo.
asserted
Becerra → have → Tokyo
“Voters need to have good information.
asserted
Voters → need → information
We’ll make sure they have it, and there will be debates.”
asserted
they → make → it
Hilton has been needling Becerra for not being as publicly visible on the campaign trail since the two men advanced in the June primary.
asserted
men → needle → primary
The British-born conservative strategist and political commentator raises chickens at his Silicon Valley home and has said he named one of them “Xavier.”
asserted
he → bear → them
“Xavier Becerra wants to be governor while dodging questions from the press and a debate with me,” Hilton posted on the social media platform X earlier this month.
asserted
Hilton → want → platform
”What else do you expect from a lazy, arrogant, entitled ‘empty suit’ 36-year machine politician.”
asserted
you → expect → politician
Becerra held a 55% to 37% lead over Hilton in a UC Berkeley/L.A. Times poll released Aug. 13.
asserted
Becerra → hold → poll
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.
asserted
that → give → 2006
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.
uncertain
Becerra → head → poll
Becerra, asked Tuesday about Hilton’s criticism that he was “coasting” to election in the November general election to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom, rejected the notion.
asserted
he → ask → notion
“Well, if I were trying to coast, I’d be out on the coast right now instead of here with you all and making a nice visit to Little Tokyo,” he said outside of an Asian-fusion gastropub on an oppressively hot, muggy afternoon.
asserted
he → try → afternoon
“Listen, this is all about making sure voters have a choice.
asserted
voters → listen → choice
We’ll get out there and make sure we’re front and center with them ... even if it’s a little hot.”
asserted
it → get → them
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are competing in the race for California governor.
asserted
Becerra → compete → governor
Here’s what you need to know about the candidates.
asserted
you → ’ → candidates
Becerra spoke with reporters after visiting Little Tokyo businesses and chatting with locals and visitors.
asserted
Becerra → speak → locals
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.
asserted
voters → pledge → identification
That would deter people from voting,” Becerra said, making a thumbs-down gesture.
asserted
Becerra → deter → gesture
“I’m not joking.”
asserted
I → joke → ?
Becerra later told reporters that the proposition, which likely California voters oppose, according to polls, is a direct attack on the state’s elections by President Trump.
uncertain
voters → tell → Trump
“The president has insisted on trying to disrupt elections.
asserted
president → insist → elections
When he can’t do it in Washington, D.C., he’s trying to do it in our state directly,” Becerra said.
asserted
Becerra → do → state
“Prop. 39 is President Trump’s effort to try to interfere in our election.
asserted
. → try → election
We have to resist it.
asserted
We → have → it
We have to oppose it.
asserted
We → have → it
And I hope people know that Prop. 39 is just a prop for Donald Trump.
asserted
. → hope → Trump
And anyone who believes that we have to see more people vote, we have to see robust elections, should be voting against Prop. 39.”
asserted
we → believe → .
Becerra also enjoyed a little shopping.
asserted
Becerra → enjoy → shopping
At Japangeles, he purchased a ball cap with “L.A.” superimposed over Japanese characters for “Nihon,” what the Japanese call their own country; at Cafe Dulce, he picked up a fruit tart; and at a 123-year-old Japanese confectionery, he bought sweet mango mochi wrapped in a thin, fluffy pancake.
asserted
he → purchase → pancake
His visit Tuesday came during the community’s annual Nisei Week festival, which celebrates Japanese American culture and history.
asserted
which → come → culture
Becerra represented the area during his time in Congress.
asserted
Becerra → represent → Congress
He ran into several people he had known over his long political career, including former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry, and Brian Kito, the third-generation owner of the Fugetsu-Do Bakery.
asserted
he → run → Bakery
Kito showed Becerra a picture of the then-congressman swearing him in as a neighborhood council president more than a decade ago.
asserted
congressman → show → president
“It was a nice reunion,” Kito said.
asserted
Kito → say → ?
…and 2 more, not listed.
