Becerra and Hilton Campaign Across California in Final Days Before Tuesday's Governor Election

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton campaigned across California over the weekend ahead of Tuesday's election for governor, a race to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is finishing his final term and considering a presidential run. Becerra is a former congressman, state attorney general and member of President Biden's Cabinet. On Saturday, Hilton wore a mask of Becerra at a Trunk or Treat event in Highland Park and told children their parents would be taxed on every mile they drive if they voted for Becerra. Becerra, speaking at a campaign event in Sacramento the same day, said that underneath the mask voters would find Donald Trump, or else a clown. Recent polls show Becerra leading Hilton by a wide margin, which is unsurprising in a state where Democratic voters vastly outnumber Republicans.

The right-leaning coverage here is a Fox News opinion column by Gianno Caldwell, who says he left Los Angeles in May 2020 for Miami. It describes tent cities, rising break-ins and violent crime, high gas and housing costs, and burdens on small businesses, and presents Hilton as a reason for Californians to stay. It links to a Fox appearance in which Hilton criticized Becerra's record and warned about a Democratic Socialists of America takeover, and to an editorial endorsing Hilton over Becerra. It offers no poll numbers and no quotes from Becerra. The Los Angeles Times, on the left, reports the campaign trail: it leads with the Halloween scene, quotes both candidates, describes the race as relatively sedate, and notes Becerra's wide polling lead and the Democratic registration advantage. Both sides touch on Hilton's criticism of Becerra, but the Times shows the exchange of insults and the polling context, while Fox makes an argument about California's conditions. Alternative outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing.