California’s governor’s race is turning into a fight over whether voters are getting a real campaign from the Democrat — or simply being asked to rubber-stamp the Sacramento political establishment.
asserted
voters → turn → establishment
Republican candidate Steve Hilton accused Xavier Becerra of “hiding” from voters and coasting on Democratic support rather than making the case for himself during a Wednesday event in West Sacramento.
asserted
Hilton → accuse → Sacramento
“Xavier Becerra is not running for governor.
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Becerra → run → governor
He is waiting to be handed the job,” Hilton said, accusing his rival of “coasting, smirking, and treating the largest state in the country like a retirement present he already earned.”
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he → wait → present
Hilton, who says he has visited all 58 California counties during his campaign, delivered his case against Becerra at Sacramento’s White Cactus Event Hall.
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he → say → Hall
His complaint was that Californians were facing serious problems while, in his view, Becerra was treating the campaign as though the job was already his.
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job → face → campaign
“He will be nothing but a figurehead and rubber stamp for the same old cronies who have ruined our state,” Hilton added.
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Hilton → ruin → state
The broadside came as Becerra enjoys a huge polling advantage.
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Becerra → come → advantage
A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released Sept. 24 showed Becerra leading Hilton by 25 points, widening his August advantage of 18 points, when he led 55% to 37%.
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he → release → %
Nine percent of the 4,512 registered voters surveyed remained undecided.
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percent → register → voters
“Becerra thinks he’s owed this job just because he was picked as a useful puppet by the Sacramento machine,” Hilton said at Wednesday’s rally.
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Hilton → think → rally
“I’ve lost count of the number of Democrat politicians and powerbrokers who have told me that Becerra was chosen precisely because he’s an empty suit that they can control.
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they → lose → that
The contrast came in a state that has not had a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served from Nov. 17, 2003, until Jan. 3, 2011.
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who → come → Jan.
The two candidates had just one televised general-election debate, held Sept. 30 at CNN’s Burbank studios.
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candidates → have → studios
It was the only scheduled face-off between them before the Nov. 3 election.
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It → schedule → election
Becerra did not attend a separate proposed event this week with critics accused him of “dodging” or “pulling out” of a promised Los Angeles Times debate Tuesday.
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critics → attend → debate
Becerra’s campaign said it never formally agreed to participate, according to The Times.
uncertain
it → say → Times
“I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve heard the phrase, ‘We invited Xavier Becerra to join us but because of a scheduling conflict he wasn’t able to be with us today,'” Hilton said, highlighting his opponent’s absence.
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Hilton → lose → absence
“What’s the conflict?
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conflict → ’ → ?
He doesn’t seem to have anything scheduled at all.
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anything → seem → ?
Hilton also attacked Becerra over comments about his family background.
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Hilton → attack → background
During the CNN debate, Becerra said, “My parents came to California with $12 in their pocket” and has repeatedly described himself as the “son of immigrants.”
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parents → say → immigrants
Hilton subsequently accused Becerra of “immigrant stolen valor” and lying, citing genealogy and obituary records they said show Becerra’s late father, Manuel, was born in Sacramento and therefore was a US citizen by birth.
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father → accuse → birth
Those remain accusations.
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Those → remain → ?
The Republican also revived criticism of Becerra’s record as Health and Human Services secretary, pointing to reported clashes with former administration officials, including Susan Rice.
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Republican → revive → Rice
Hilton’s broader argument took aim at California’s Democratic establishment, with the Republican pointing to the cost of living, homelessness, artificial intelligence and preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics.
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Republican → take → Olympics
The Aporia
