California Democrat gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra pulled the race card with a low-brow shot at his Republican opponent Steve Hilton during a CNN-moderated debate on Wednesday.

Jake Tapper set up the discussion on immigration by referring to the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.

“Nationwide, about one million people have been deported since 2025”, Tapper noted before directing his question at Hilton.

“California law prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, except in cases involving dangerous criminals. As governor, would you reverse that policy?”

Hilton, who was born in London, said he believes California law does call for “cooperation” with the federal government on immigration.

“I’m an immigrant,” he added. “My parents were immigrants from Hungary to England,” he said, accusing the current California government of not following the “law as it’s written.”

Hilton, who was born in London, said he believes California law does call for “cooperation” with the federal government on immigration.

When pressed on assisting the Trump administration’s deportation efforts if elected governor, Hilton said he would follow the law.

“It’s about enforcing the law,” Hilton responded. “My whole aim here would be to lower the temperature. We’ve got to get this whole debate back to where most people want it to be, which is to prioritize the removal of dangerous criminals.”

That’s when Becerra took his shot:

“Steve, you’re running for governor of California, and you’ll enforce Trump’s laws at the federal level, but you won’t enforce state laws at our level. California welcomed you into California, and you welcomed ICE mercenaries into our state in return. How do you square that? You know, you’re an immigrant.

“I have fought all my life to make life better for immigrants, to represent them well, to defend them, to let them grow and build, like my parents,” he continued before landing his soundbite.

“But here’s the problem I have with your policies — you seem to welcome immigrants who look like you but deport immigrants who look like me. We need to have a governor who will protect everyone who works hard.”

Here’s the truth: Steve Hilton welcomes immigrants that look like him, but wants to deport immigrants that look like me.https://t.co/iBiJxgq95i pic.twitter.com/NUSsRh3Ye4

— Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) October 1, 2026

Hilton called Becerra’s racist accusation “disgraceful” and got the better of him in several moments during the debate. Watch some highlights below:

This was a MASTER-level troll right out of the gate.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton kicked off his debate on CNN by thanking the network for finally forcing his Democrat opponent Xavier Becerra out of hiding.

HILTON: “But first of all, I just want to say thank… pic.twitter.com/m1sMsavRqL

— Overton (@overton_news) October 1, 2026

🚨 CA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE STEVE HILTON ABSOLUTELY OBLITERATED XAVIER BECERRA!

“The definition of insanity is believing that people who put the red tape in place are now some how gonna CUT IT!” 🔥

BECERRA: We need to double the rate of homebuilding

HILTON: He hasn’t explained… pic.twitter.com/Pf1vnCEPq6

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 1, 2026

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