California Gubernatorial Debate Overview
In a recent turn of events, California’s top Republican figure, Steve Hilton, took a moment to criticize his GOP counterpart, Sheriff Chad Bianco. The criticism stemmed from Bianco’s absence at the gubernatorial debate on Tuesday, as well as his past actions during the 2020 George Floyd protests where he kneeled at the request of demonstrators.
Before addressing the moderator’s questions, Hilton expressed his desire to discuss those absent from the debate, referring specifically to “RINOs not in the room.” He aimed to emphasize the importance of participation in such significant events.
Hilton remarked, “During the Black Lives Matter riots in 2020, he took a knee at the request of BLM. Now he says he was praying.” He encouraged voters to seek out the video online, describing Bianco as a “weird sheriff” and adding, “Chad Bianco has more luggage than LAX.”
Interestingly, other notable figures, including California Representatives Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell, also missed the key gubernatorial meeting.
Both Hilton and Bianco seem to be at a crossroads in their campaigns as they vie for attention in a state where political conditions have shifted significantly since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration.
Hilton is currently viewed as a strong candidate for the 2026 California gubernatorial race, having raised around $4.1 million in the latter half of 2025, surpassing many competitors.
Swalwell, on the other hand, has aligned himself with Hollywood stars, reportedly raising about $3.1 million since his entry into the race in November.
However, the race remains open with no definitive leader emerging. A December poll from Emerson College indicated Bianco held a slight edge with a 13% approval rating, closely followed by Hilton and Swalwell, each with 12%. Porter trailed with 11%, while several Democrats, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, garnered less than 5% support.
The poll also revealed that approximately one-third of voters remained undecided.
The political landscape could further shift with the recent inauguration of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who attended the debate and expressed concerns over affordability— a hot-button issue in California politics. Mahan stated, “I don’t understand politicians who defend the status quo and pretend that government can’t be more efficient, more effective, and more technologically enabled.” This perspective may play into the evolving gubernatorial race.
