Next week, Steve Hilton with coax Xavier “Bacaria” Becerra out of his basement for what is likely to be the only debate between the two of the gubernatorial campaign season. Hilton, who has been holding events and making appearances around the state, spoke to John Phillips on our radio partner KABC Radio, about the debate, characterizing his scarcely seen opponent, “He’s an empty suit, an empty suit, and he’ll be a complete rubber stamp for the cost and the craziness coming out of the legislature.”
Phillips shared his observation about the difference between Hilton’s active, connective campaign and Becerra’s style likening it to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential ‘basement’ campaign, saying he’d seen former mob hit man Sammy “the Bull” Gravano–who was in federal witness protection–on TV twice this week–more than he has seen candidate Becerra. Even the LA Times–no friend of Hilton’s–admitted on July 31 that Becerra had kept “a relatively low profile since the election with few public appearances.”
Debate Details
Host: CNN
Moderators: Jake Tapper and Dana Bash
Location: Los Angeles area
Time: 6:00 p.m. PDT (9:00 p.m. EDT) on September 30, 2026
Note: This is the first debate between the two candidates since they advanced from the June 2026 primary, taking place just before mail-in ballots are sent out to California voters for the November 3 general election
