Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra make last-minute pitches to California voters as gov contest enters home stretch

California governor candidates Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra criscrossed the state Tuesday, making their last-minute pleas to voters with the contest to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom just days away.

Hilton, who trails in recent polls, joined supporters in Newport Beach Tuesday for a press conference calling out waste in California’s “Broadband-for-All” program, which was launched in 2021 with $3.25 billion in federal Covid relief, according to his campaign.

Steve Hilton holds a news conference at the Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Jon Putman for CA Post
Steve Hilton holds a news conference at the Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Jon Putman for CA Post

Hilton claims the costly program has connected just one community education center five years after it launched, dodging federal oversight — part of what he’s called a pattern of waste and fraud in the state.

The Republican former Fox News host highlighted his “Operation Zero Waste” proposal, which seeks to cancel California’s troubled high-speed rail project, reduce headcount in the executive branch by 10%, reform Medi-Cal and “defund the homeless industrial complex” by placing caps on per-unit costs for affordable housing.

Becerra, who’s been criticized for keeping a low profile on the campaign trail, had four events on his schedule Tuesday.

He made remarks at a morning reception with Asian American community leaders in San Francisco, which was closed to press.

The Dem then stopped by a No on Prop. 39 event in the Bay Area city, urging voters to reject the voter ID proposal, which appears to be trailing in polls. Becerra previously launched a spending committee to block the Republican-backed measure.

In Oakland, he hosted a mid-day reception with black community leaders followed by a phonebank at SEIU Local 2015 in the afternoon.

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during a campaign event at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Minh Connors for CA Post
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra supports hold signs during a campaign event at the Oakstop in Oakland, California, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Minh Connors for CA Post
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during a campaign event at the SEIU Local 2015 Office in Oakland, California, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Minh Connors for CA Post

The former Health and Human Services secretary held a 15.7-point lead over Hilton in the race, at 55% to 39.3% and 4.9% undecided, in a poll commissioned by The California Post.

Californians are notably sour on the state’s direction, with 56% of voters saying the Golden State is on the wrong track in the poll.

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton arrives at a campaign rally Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Oceanside, Calif. Denis Poroy for CA Post
Steve Hilton holds a press conference at the Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Jon Putman for CA Post

Affordability topped the list of voters’ concerns, with 79.6% of voters naming at least one economic issue as one of their top two priorities for the next governor.

Still, those frustrations may not be enough to motivate voters to choose a Republican.

“Voters are extremely partisan, and prefer one of their own to a Republican,” pollster John McLaughlin told The California Post.

“They will vote for Becerra and hope for the best.”

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