---
title: "Becerra vs. Hilton: 2026 California governor’s race"
url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-ca"
updated: "2026-08-31"
source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim"
publisher: "Pluribus"
---

# 2026 California governor’s race: Xavier Becerra (D) vs. Steve Hilton (R)

Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 31, 2026

In the 2026 California gubernatorial election, Democratic former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra faces Republican Fox News contributor Steve Hilton in the November 3 general election after advancing from the June 2 top-two primary. The race hinges on whether voters favor Becerra's agenda of protecting progressive policies, curbing price gouging, expanding healthcare, and opposing Donald Trump, or Hilton's campaign to dismantle one-party Democratic rule through income tax cuts, deregulation, and stricter law enforcement.

## Candidates

- **Xavier Becerra** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](http://xavierbecerra2026.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)
- **Steve Hilton** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

## Issues

### Cost of living and economy

Salience: high

Becerra seeks to lower living costs through state regulation and price controls, whereas Hilton proposes slashing income taxes and gutting state business regulations.

**Xavier Becerra:** Curb price gouging and lower living costs

Becerra promises to address rising household expenses by cracking down on corporate price gouging and unjustified rate increases. He advocates using state authority to lower prices where market mechanisms fail while expanding relief for essentials like groceries and childcare.

- Target price gouging and unjustified rate hikes in consumer goods and services.
- Expand state assistance for childcare and essential family living costs.
- Utilize state oversight to control costs where private markets fail consumers.

> “Californians are being squeezed by rising costs—from insurance and childcare to groceries—and too many families are falling behind even while working hard.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “As governor, I will take on the cost of living head-on by standing up to price gouging and unjustified rate hikes, expanding help with childcare and essential costs, and using the power of the state to lower prices where the market has failed.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** Cut income taxes and eliminate business regulation

Hilton proposes sweeping income tax reductions, eliminating state income tax on individual income under $100,000 (or the first $150,000) and enacting a 7.5% flat tax above that threshold. He also advocates abolishing the $800 annual small business tax, sunsetting regulatory codes, and reducing state government spending to pre-pandemic levels.

- Eliminate state income tax on income under $100,000 (or first $150,000) and create a 7.5% flat tax above $100,000.
- Abolish the annual $800 tax on small businesses.
- Sunset state regulatory codes and enforce agency regulatory budgets.
- Roll back state budget spending to pre-pandemic levels.

> “No tax on income under $100K”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

> “Abolish $800 Small Business Tax.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Campaign site](https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/)

### Housing and homelessness

Salience: high

Becerra prioritizes state investment in affordable housing and renter protections, while Hilton focuses on lowering developer fees and expanding single-family home development.

**Xavier Becerra:** Expand affordable housing and protect renters

Becerra treats housing as essential public infrastructure, advocating for streamlined approvals for developments that satisfy environmental and affordability guidelines. He also supports protecting renters against steep rent hikes and evictions while supporting first-time homebuyers.

- Dramatically increase home production by streamlining permitting for affordable housing.
- Protect tenants from unfair evictions and steep rent increases.
- Provide state financial support for first-time home buyers.

> “As governor, I will treat housing like the essential infrastructure it is. I will push to dramatically increase housing production by making it easier to build.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “We will invest in affordable housing, protect renters from unfair evictions and rent hikes, and help first-time buyers get a fair shot at homeownership.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** Promote single-family housing and reduce fees

Hilton aims to make single-family homes accessible by capping local government impact fees, curbing anti-housing state regulations, and reforming environmental litigation under CEQA. He opposes state density mandates that favor high-density apartments over single-family neighborhoods.

- Cap local impact fees that increase house prices by up to 20%.
- Reform CEQA to eliminate environmental lawsuits blocking home construction.
- Protect single-family residential zoning and expand development on available land.

> “To provide Great Homes for Californians we need to directly tackle the main causes of the Housing Crisis: hidden housing taxes, anti-housing regulations, and anti-housing lawsuits.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

> “For too long, the Democrat ruling elite have been fighting a war on single family homes. They want everyone to live in apartments and take public transit everywhere, as if we were living in some European city.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

### Healthcare

Salience: high

Becerra supports transitioning California to a single-payer healthcare system, whereas Hilton criticizes government spending on public union healthcare benefits.

**Xavier Becerra:** Supports single-payer transition and immediate cost controls

Becerra frames healthcare as a human right and aims to transition California toward a universal single-payer CalCare system. In the short term, he proposes strengthening Medi-Cal, capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and prosecuting anticompetitive hospital practices.

- Build toward a single-payer CalCare system while securing immediate cost relief.
- Strengthen Medi-Cal and expand relief for middle-income families.
- Challenged anticompetitive hospital pricing and lowered prescription costs as HHS Secretary.

> “Health care is a human right. Californians deserve care they can actually use—without medical debt, delays, or fear of losing coverage.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “We can deliver real relief now while building toward a universal, single-payer CalCare system that puts people before profits.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** Opposes government union healthcare spending

Hilton criticizes state government spending on luxury healthcare benefits and pensions for government unions, arguing that Democratic leaders prioritize union interests over taxpayers.

- Reduce state spending allocated to government union pension and healthcare packages.

> “More and more of the taxes we pay are eaten up by government unions, in luxury pensions and healthcare handed to them by the Democrat politicians they bribe – with our money!”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

### Energy and utility costs

Salience: high

Becerra advocates state utility rate controls and clean energy equity, while Hilton proposes lowering fuel and power prices by removing climate mandates and boosting oil drilling.

**Xavier Becerra:** Reduce utility rates and expand clean energy oversight

Becerra supports an equitable clean-energy transition focused on utility bill affordability and strict regulation of power utilities. He introduced a proposal for a free state 'Power Hour' to lower electricity bills for working households.

- Center energy policy around bill affordability for low- and middle-income families.
- Increase transparency and public oversight of private utility companies.
- Proposed a free 'Power Hour' initiative to cut residential utility costs.

> “Bill affordability will be at the center of my energy policy, especially for low- and middle-income families.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “Becerra Announces First-in-the-Nation Free “Power Hour” to Cut Utility Bills for Working Californians”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Campaign site](http://xavierbecerra2026.com/)

**Steve Hilton:** Slash gas prices, cut electricity bills, and expand oil drilling

Hilton promises to lower gasoline prices to $3.00 per gallon by removing state taxes and fees, while cutting electricity bills in half by removing climate mandates. He also supports increasing domestic oil production in California.

- Reduce gas prices to $3.00 per gallon by removing state rules and fees.
- Cut electricity bills in half by removing green energy mandates.
- Increase oil drilling across California.

> “$3.00 Gas. Steve will end the rules and fees that drove California gas prices through the roof and restore affordable energy.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Campaign site](https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/)

> “Cut Utility Bills in Half. Steve will take on the political mandates and failures that made electricity unaffordable.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Campaign site](https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/)

### Education and parental rights

Salience: medium

Becerra focuses on universal public school investment, whereas Hilton mandates strict proficiency targets, school choice, parent trigger laws, and restrictions on school gender policies.

**Xavier Becerra:** Guarantee quality public education for all children

Becerra highlights education equity, promising to ensure every child gets a high-quality education regardless of family income or background.

- Guarantee access to high-quality public education for every child in California.

> “Here's what we are fighting for: a California where every child gets a great education, every family can afford a home, and no one loses their health care because of where they were born or how much money they have.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** Enforce strict academic standards and expand parental rights

Hilton sets a target of 100% student proficiency in state math and English standards and requires reading proficiency by 3rd grade. He supports expanding charter schools and school choice, firing underperforming teachers, restoring parent trigger laws, protecting parental rights on gender issues, and prohibiting biological males from competing in female sports.

- Target 100% student proficiency in state math and English standards and reading by 3rd grade.
- Expand charter schools, school choice programs, and parent trigger laws.
- Reward effective teachers, fire incompetent teachers, and prohibit political indoctrination in curricula.
- Protect parental rights regarding school gender transparency and ban biological males from female sports.

> “Ensure that 100% of students meet state math and English standards”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

> “Ensuring parental rights isn’t about politics — it’s common sense, just like it’s common sense that biological boys (or men) should not be competing in girls’ (or women’s) sports.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

### State governance and federal relations

Salience: medium

Becerra promotes his record of filing 122 lawsuits against Donald Trump's administration, while Hilton accepts Trump's endorsement and campaigns to dismantle state Democratic leadership.

**Xavier Becerra:** Resist federal overreach and defend California laws

Becerra highlights his track record as former California Attorney General, where he sued the Trump administration 122 times to defend state policies on environmental protection, healthcare, and immigration. He positions himself as a legal defender against federal overreach.

- Sued the Trump administration 122 times as California AG to defend the ACA, Dreamers, and environmental rules.
- Vows to challenge federal overreach in court to preserve state autonomy.

> “When Trump and his administration threaten access to healthcare, affordable housing, fair wages, or protections for immigrants and marginalized communities, the state has a responsibility to step in and fight.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “I am that fighter, and have a proven record facing and winning against Donald Trump, having sued him 122 times in fact as California’s Attorney General.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** End Democratic one-party rule in California

Hilton campaigns to end Democratic control in Sacramento, blaming the state's challenges on long-term policy failures and bureaucratic bloat. Endorsed by Donald Trump, Hilton promotes himself as an outsider who will reform state government.

- End Democratic one-party rule to fix government incompetence and state spending bloat.
- Accepted the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

> “We need to end the one party rule that got us into this mess. That’s why I’m running for governor. To make California Golden Again.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

### Public safety and crime

Salience: medium

**Xavier Becerra:** No documented position in our sources

**Steve Hilton:** Strictly enforce criminal laws and back law enforcement

Hilton promises zero tolerance for crime, advocating strict law enforcement against theft, open-air drug markets, violent crime, and illegal immigration. He endorsed Proposition 36, criticized laws decriminalizing retail theft under $950, and pledged full support for law enforcement officers.

- Strictly enforce laws against retail theft, open-air drug markets, violent crime, and illegal immigration.
- Support Proposition 36 and repeal policies making theft under $950 a misdemeanor.
- Provide full executive backing to law enforcement officers to catch and prosecute offenders.

> “We need to get back to the basic principle that we should enforce the law — whether it’s on homelessness, open air drug markets, shoplifting, illegal immigration or violent crime.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

> “Now that Proposition 36, which Democrats like Gavin Newsom fought so strongly, has passed, it’s amazing to think that anyone ever thought it was a good idea to make theft under $950 a day legal.”
> — Steve Hilton, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hilton)

### Disaster preparedness and climate risk

Salience: medium

**Xavier Becerra:** Proactive disaster prevention and fair emergency recovery

Becerra prioritizes shifting state disaster management from reactive response to proactive prevention for wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and earthquakes. He supports investments in flood control, wildfire risk reduction, and seismic retrofits, alongside quick disaster relief for renters and homeowners.

- Shift state emergency planning to proactive prevention before disasters occur.
- Invest in wildfire prevention, flood infrastructure, and seismic retrofits for vulnerable communities.
- Ensure rapid recovery assistance for renters, homeowners, and local small businesses.

> “As Governor, I will put protecting Californians at the center of how we prepare for wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and extreme weather. That means shifting from a system that reacts after disaster strikes to one that prevents harm before it happens.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

> “When disasters do occur, my administration will make sure recovery is fast, fair, and humane.”
> — Xavier Becerra, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Xavier_Becerra)

**Steve Hilton:** No documented position in our sources

[View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-ca)