With Governor Gavin Newsom’s eight-year term coming to an end, the seat for governor of California is up for grabs.
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are the contenders on the ballot after the primary election this past June.
Xavier Becerra:
Becerra was born right in the capital of California to Mexican-American immigrants. I think that might be the best reason for him to get elected, since he grew up in California and has loved the state throughout his life.
Becerra is a very experienced man with many years of public service beginning in 1987 when he was a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice. His most recent major official position was the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden.
Gov. Newsom has formally endorsed him on X after Becerra was elected as the Democratic primary candidate.
“He will stand up to Donald Trump, defend our families, and keep our state moving forward,” Newsom said on X in June.
Becerra is focused on the people, and it shows in his policies. His most prominent topic is healthcare. In the past two years, the healthcare budget has been cut in half across the United States. Thanks to President Trump, many residents of California have had trouble keeping and receiving health care.
Becerra’s “California Prevention First” Initiative would focus on keeping Californians healthy through preventative care.
Steve Hilton:
Hilton was born in London to two Hungarian immigrants. He moved to California in 2010, where he explored the state before becoming a Fox News host in 2016. Hilton is also a businessman who co-founded the political crowdfunding and candidate scoring startup formerly known as Crowdpac, which changed ownership and has now been rebranded as a Democrat-focused platform, CrowdBlue.
Beyond entertainment and business, Hilton has some minor experience in politics, as he served as director of strategy for British prime minister David Cameron for two years in the early 2010s.
In 2021, Hilton became a U.S. citizen. Hilton has expressed his support for President Trump since the 2016 election. Trump has done the same for Hilton during his campaign for governor, expressing his support on Truth Social: “Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.”
While his opponent focuses more on the population’s health, Hilton centers his platform on the cost of living in California. On his campaign website, he promises to make the cost of living more affordable, which can not be achieved due to the administration’s tariffs and other federal funding cuts.
The war in Iran has driven up the cost of oil, with the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed after attempts to bargain with the U.S., and the path in sight still unclear. Hilton’s biggest plan is to freeze gas prices across the state at $3, which is impossible now, thanks to the lesser amount of product coming from overseas due to the war in the Middle East.
SO the question is, Who is right for california?:
In order for California to keep healthy, growing, and flourishing as a state, we need to vote blue.
With some of the youngest members of Generation Z turning 18-years-old, approximately 75% of Gen Z Americans are now eligible to vote in the upcoming midterms. This can be a powerful movement because they have the power to really sway the vote. After observing the policies of the second Trump administration over the past two years, many young Americans are frustrated and motivated to get to the polls and vote for leadership that represents their values.
Gen Z is tired.
Gen Z is looking for the right governor who prioritizes results and real equity over tradition as usual. Xavier Becerra represents a meaningful alternative in this election. He sets a clear path forward that sets him apart from his opponent. He brings something different to the table.