Story perspectives

PPIC Poll Shows Xavier Becerra Leading Steve Hilton 60-38

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 12:01 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Power Hour Plan

Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton debated on CNN Wednesday night in California’s governor race.
A PPIC poll showed Becerra leading Hilton 60% to 38% of likely voters.
Hilton pledged gasoline under $3 per gallon, cut income tax on the first $150,000, and would fund them by cutting rail and homelessness spending.
Becerra proposed a “Power Hour” giving low-income households up to two hours of free electricity from excess solar generation.

Left

Housing Affordability Attack

Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra and Republican candidate Steve Hilton debated on CNN Wednesday night in California’s gubernatorial race.
Becerra accused Hilton’s tax-cut and AI proposals of worsening housing affordability for low-income Californians and denounced the Trump-backed Proposition 39 voter-ID measure.
Hilton proposed ending income tax on the first $150,000, then applying a flat 8% rate.
They opposed the billionaire-tax ballot measure, yet Becerra’s stance conflicted with leaders like Bernie Sanders.

Blindspot

A Public Policy Institute of California poll conducted September 4-10 showed Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra leading Republican Steve Hilton 60% to 38% among likely voters.
Within this story's sources, this poll data appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

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Power Hour Plan

Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton debated on CNN Wednesday night in California’s governor race.
A PPIC poll showed Becerra leading Hilton 60% to 38% of likely voters.
Hilton pledged gasoline under $3 per gallon, cut income tax on the first $150,000, and would fund them by cutting rail and homelessness spending.
Becerra proposed a “Power Hour” giving low-income households up to two hours of free electricity from excess solar generation.

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