Xavier Becerra Keeps Low Profile – and Solid Lead – in Race for Governor
Xavier Becerra, Senior Advisor to the UCLA VRP and attorney on file in the case, speaks during a press conference following oral arguments in Cervantes et al. v. Bianco, a case challenging Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of more than 650,000 ballots cast in the November special election, at the steps of the Earl Warren Building at the California Supreme Court on Aug. 24, 2026. (Gina Castro/KQED)
Airdate: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 10 am
In the race to be California’s next governor, Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has maintained a sizable lead despite keeping a low public profile. Meanwhile, Republican Steve Hilton has been pressing his case as an outsider who will cut taxes and support the working class. Ahead of their debate on CNN on Wednesday evening, we’ll look at why enthusiasm for the Democratic front-runner is lagging.
Guests:
- Jeanne Kuang, Capitol reporter, CalMatters
- Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk
- Jeremy B. White, senior politics reporter, POLITICO