By admin 
The two candidates running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom — Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton — will meet on Sept. 30 for an hourlong debate hosted by CNN, the network announced Tuesday.
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Since the two men emerged from a crowded June primary field, Hilton has repeatedly called on Becerra to agree to debates ahead of the November general election. Becerra, who kept a low public profile for much of the summer, told reporters last month that he would be doing “lots of debates.”
The CNN event is the first to be scheduled. In response to questions about whether Becerra would agree to more, campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland said in a text message it was “the first debate we’ve confirmed.”
In a video posted to social media, Hilton suggested he was gaining momentum in the race over Becerra, who he claimed agreed to the debate only “after months of hiding.”
In response, Underland said the campaign “would never begrudge Steve his daydreams — they’re good for his mental health.”
The Sept. 30 event will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and will air live at 6 p.m. on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and the network’s streaming service.
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The debate will air just as many voters begin paying closer attention to the election. California counties will begin mailing voters ballots no later than Oct. 5.
An August poll of 2,310 likely voters by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies found Becerra leading Hilton 55% to 38%.
The two men repeatedly clashed in a number of primary debates and forums. Becerra was the frequent target in those events as he gained momentum in the primary, frequently sparring with Hilton.
Becerra aimed to tie Hilton to President Donald Trump, who endorsed Hilton’s campaign, calling Trump his “daddy” and saying the former Fox News host was little more than a talking head who would bring MAGA policies to California. Hilton argued Becerra was hoping to use Trump to distract voters from California Democrats’ failures.
Hilton laid into Becerra’s tenure as former President Joe Biden’s secretary of health and human services. Citing a Pulitzer-winning New York Times investigation, the Republican argued Becerra bungled the handling of the influx of child migrants that lead thousands to be trafficked into dangerous jobs. Becerra argued the claims were overstated and said his agency had narrow oversight over the children.
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