Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton on Friday publicly challenged his Democratic rival, Xavier Becerra, to participate in a series of debates before the November 3 election.
Hilton, a former Fox News host and advisor to a U.K. prime minister, released a video stating he had accepted six debate invitations from major networks, including CNN, and urged Becerra to do the same. He placed a cardboard cutout of Becerra behind a podium labeled with the Democratic candidate’s name, saying, “Come on, Xavier. Man up and show up.”
Becerra’s campaign responded by accusing Hilton of seeking publicity and dismissed the challenge as a stunt. A spokesman for Becerra stated that Hilton was “chasing media and doing Donald Trump’s bidding” while Becerra focused on building a coalition of voters. The Democratic candidate has not yet accepted any of the debate invitations, according to Hilton’s campaign.
Hilton finished second in the June open-primary election with 24.6% of the vote, advancing to the general election under California’s top-two primary system. The system allows voters to select candidates from any party, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the November ballot regardless of party affiliation. This year, Hilton secured one of the two spots on the gubernatorial ballot, while Becerra, the state’s current Attorney General, is the Democratic nominee.
California’s political landscape has shifted significantly in recent decades, with Republicans holding roughly a quarter of voter registrations compared to a much larger share for Democrats and independent voters who lean left. The top-two primary system, established by Proposition 14 in 2010, was intended to encourage moderation but has often resulted in general elections featuring two candidates from the same party. In 2018, for example, the gubernatorial race featured two Democrats, excluding Republicans entirely.
Hilton, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has framed his campaign around opposition to progressive policies in California, including housing regulations and energy mandates. His debate challenge follows a pattern of high-profile Republican candidates in California seeking to elevate their visibility in statewide races amid structural disadvantages in voter registration and electoral rules.