California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton will face off in a nationally televised debate on Sept. 30 at CNN's Burbank studio. The debate comes just days before mail-in ballots arrive statewide for the general election. According to a previous promise from Becerra, there are expected to be multiple debates between the two candidates. No Republican has won a statewide contest in California since 2006, which may contribute to the high stakes and attention surrounding this year's governor's race.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Here is a 6-9 sentence summary of the news story:
Xavier Becerra, the Democratic front-runner in the California governor's race, has pledged to debate his Republican rival Steve Hilton multiple times between now and November 3. This comes after weeks of criticism from Hilton, who accused Becerra of avoiding debates. The two candidates will face off on September 30 in a nationally televised event hosted by CNN at its Burbank studio. According to a recent poll, Becerra is leading Hilton 55% to 37% in heavily Democratic California, where Republicans have not won statewide office since 2006. In the debate, voters can expect sharply contrasting views on taxes, spending, and California's clashes with the Trump administration. The debate will give millions of Californians a side-by-side comparison of the two candidates before they receive their mail-in ballots. Becerra has emphasized the importance of giving voters good information to make informed decisions. The debate is seen as crucial in shaping public opinion ahead of the election on November 3.
Written for “California Gubernatorial Debate” on 2026-09-08,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Becerra, Hilton to debate in governor’s race days before voters receive mail-in ballots
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voters → debate → ballots
- Days before mail-in ballots arrive statewide, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off Sept. 30 in California’s high-stakes governor’s race.
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Becerra → mail → race
Voters will see sharply contrasting views on taxes, spending and California’s clashes with the Trump administration as the state prepares to choose a successor to termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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state → see → Newsom
- After weeks of Hilton accusing Becerra of ducking debates, the nationally televised, hour-long CNN event — without a studio audience — will give millions of Californians a side-by-side comparison.
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event → accuse → comparison
Days before California voters receive their mail-in ballots, gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, and Steve Hilton, a Republican, will debate in a nationally televised face-off.
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Becerra → receive → off
On Sept. 30 at CNN’s Burbank studio, the two candidates hoping to succeed termed-out Gov. Gavin Newson are expected to spar over sharply divergent visions for the future of the state.
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candidates → hop → state
California’s next leader is expected to face pressing fiscal issues, as well as continued battle with the Trump administration.
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leader → expect → administration
Given California’s deep Democratic tilt, there was a question whether the two men would debate.
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men → give → tilt
On Aug. 19, Becerra promised multiple debates with Hilton ahead of the general election.
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Becerra → promise → election
“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 in downtown Los Angeles.
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Becerra → have → Angeles
“Voters need to have good information.
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Voters → need → information
We’ll make sure they have it, and there will be debates.”
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they → make → it
The following day, Hilton said he was skeptical of Becerra’s promise.
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he → say → promise
“I don’t believe him unless he commits to an actual debate.
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he → believe → debate
Invitations are on the table for dates and places,” Hilton said.
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Hilton → say → dates
“Why can’t he just accept them?
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he → accept → them
I think he’s lying.
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he → think → ?
I don’t think he wants to do debates because he doesn’t want to debate his record.”
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he → think → record
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are competing in the race for California governor.
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Becerra → compete → governor
Here’s what you need to know about the candidates.
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you → ’ → candidates
September’s hour-long debate, taking place shortly before county elections officials begin mailing ballots to all the state’s registered voters, will be moderated by the cable network’s anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.
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officials → take → anchors
It is the most attention a California gubernatorial contest has drawn since 2010, when “Today” show host Matt Lauer and NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd moderated nationally televised clashes.
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Lauer → draw → clashes
That is perhaps unsurprising given how sharply the California electorate has swung left, with no Republican winning a statewide contest since 2006.
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Republican → give → 2006
Two did that year.
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Two → do → ?
While there will not be a studio audience, the debate will air on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, CNN.com and related TV and mobile apps for subscribers.
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debate → air → subscribers
Times staff writer Nicole Nixon contributed to this report.
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Nixon → contribute → report
