Governor's race heats up as Becerra meets fire victims, Hilton blames Dems for high cost of living

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Set us as preferred SACRAMENTO — With just over six weeks until the Nov.3 election, the two candidates for California governor hit the campaign trail Thursday to promote plans to address the state’s high cost of living and continue rebuilding after the deadly wildfires that burned thousands of Los Angeles homes last year.Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are vying to replace termed-out Gov.

Gavin Newsom, who is considering a run for president in 2028.While Becerra holds a comfortable lead in the solidly-Democratic state, according to recent opinion polls, Hilton has aggressively attacked the veteran Democratic official as an “empty suit” who would bend to special interests in Sacramento.“Xavier Becerra will be a rubber stamp for Democrat laws that raise your costs.That is the simple choice in this election,” Hilton said during a morning press conference in front of the state Capitol.With a stack of file boxes representing the more than 1,100 bills passed by the legislature this year towering over him, Hilton, a former Fox News host and one-time advisor to a UK prime minister, pledged to veto any bill that would lead to higher costs if he is elected governor.

California Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are competing in the race for California governor.Here’s what you need to know about the candidates.“We have to go in a new direction.

Lower your costs, cut the BS, the bureaucracy, and these bills that raise costs for every Californian,” he said.Hilton called out bills now on Newsom’s desk that would expand the state’s antitrust law and tighten rules for packaging made of recycled materials, measures opposed by business groups.Another signed by Newsom earlier this year allows Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to surpass a 2% limit on local sales taxes.He has pro...