California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton will hold their first one-on-one debate on Sept. 30, a nationally televised event hosted by CNN at the network’s Burbank studios. The debate is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating.
Becerra, a Democrat and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under President Biden, and Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, advanced to the general election after finishing as the top two vote-getters in California’s June 2 primary.
The two candidates previously appeared together in a primary debate on CNN last May, moderated by Kaitlan Collins and Elex Michaelson, alongside three other Democratic and one other Republican candidate. The Sept. 30 event will mark their first direct, one-on-one matchup.
In the May 5 primary debate, Becerra faced questions from a Democratic rival about more than 300,000 unaccompanied minor children who went missing during his tenure as HHS Secretary. Hilton’s campaign has said whistleblowers who spoke exclusively with the campaign described loosened vetting standards for sponsors during that period, which the campaign alleges allowed traffickers and cartel-linked individuals greater access to the children involved.
Polling has shifted in the race since the primary. Becerra held nearly a 30-point lead over Hilton immediately after advancing from the June primary. That lead has since narrowed to 10 points, with Becerra now polling at 49 percent to Hilton’s 41 percent among likely voters, and 9 percent undecided, according to polling reported by RedState in late August.
Hilton has been campaigning across California neighborhoods in recent weeks, including a block party event in East Los Angeles, an area generally considered part of Becerra’s base of support.
The debate will be the first time voters see the two candidates face off directly since the narrowing of the polls, with the November 3 general election less than 60 days away.
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