Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Trump were not present at the California governor debate but were repeatedly invoked by the two actual candidates as proxies for the choice voters face in November. Xavier Becerra, the Democratic front-runner, often cast his Republican opponent, Steve Hilton, as a stand-in for Mr. Trump, while Mr. Hilton argued Mr. Becerra represented more of the same from Mr. Newsom and Democratic lawmakers.
Unlike chaotic spring open primary debates, the head-to-head clash in CNN’s Burbank studio offered a clear philosophical contrast. It was the only scheduled fall debate between the candidates, moderated by Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, covering about a dozen topics including education and health care. In heavily Democratic California, Mr. Becerra has led in every major poll, making it Mr. Hilton’s task to persuade voters to shift direction.
A key takeaway was Mr. Becerra’s repeated linking of Mr. Hilton to President Trump, which Mr. Hilton dismissed as an insult to Californians seeking change. Mr. Hilton positioned himself as the change candidate after 16 years of Democratic governorship, blaming the party for unresolved issues like homelessness and high costs. He criticized the assumption that Democrats win simply due to their party label, urging voters to try something different. The debate also highlighted artificial intelligence as a top concern, with Mr. Hilton saying he would monitor A.
I. companies for self-policing compliance following a White House meeting tech leaders had with President Trump the day prior.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing