Two California Governor Hopefuls Share Their Vision at Big Latino Leaders Event

What Happened?

Imagine California is picking a new "boss" (called a governor) because the current one, Governor Gavin Newsom, is finishing his time. Two people want the job: Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton. They both spoke at a big meeting in downtown Los Angeles for Latino elected leaders (people chosen to help run things). They gave their speeches just a few hours apart, and this was like a sneak peek of what they’ll argue about in the November election.

• Xavier Becerra is a Democrat (one of the two big political teams in the U.S.).
• Steve Hilton is a Republican (the other big team).
• They both showed up at the same event for the first time since a preliminary vote (primary) on June 2.

The Candidates and the Primary

Here’s a simple scoreboard from the primary election:

1. Xavier Becerra came in first with 28% of the vote. He used to be a big helper in health for the whole country and California’s top lawyer.
2. Steve Hilton came in second with 24.6% of the vote. He used to be on TV as a commentator for Fox News.

Important Point: Republicans are only about 25% of the people allowed to vote in California. That means Hilton has a harder hill to climb to win in November.

Becerra’s Speech: Linking Hilton to Trump

Becerra spoke for about 10 minutes. He didn’t say Hilton’s or Trump’s name directly, but he called the president a "false prophet" (someone who makes promises that don’t come true).

He said things like:

• "We don’t need people who promise to end a war in one day, but we’re still fighting it" (talking about ongoing U.S. attacks on Iran).
• "We don’t need someone who said they’d lower gas prices, then raised them by starting a reckless, illegal war."
• He said California won’t "accept their disciples" — meaning he thinks Hilton follows Trump’s ways.

Becerra also made fun of Hilton for a May video where Hilton ate a Del Taco taco and called it a "street taco." Becerra joked that real street tacos come from a cart on the street, not a long-standing restaurant.

He also talked about serious stuff: the recent killings of immigrants by federal officers. Becerra said the price of "simply driving while brown" is too high.

Hilton’s Speech: His Story and Small Businesses

Hilton spoke for about 5 minutes. He didn’t fight back at Becerra’s jokes. Instead, he shared his life story:

• His parents moved from Hungary to Britain.
• He moved to California in 2012.
• He went to Oxford University and advised a U.K. prime minister.
• He ran restaurants and knows it’s a hard business.

He said:

• "That story of the immigrant aspiration… is my story."
• He is "not an ideologue" (he doesn’t want to force beliefs on others).
• He wants everyone to "have a shot at climbing that ladder of opportunity."
• He blamed state rules and "red tape" (annoying paperwork) for hurting small businesses and working-class people.

He also said Trump endorsed him, but then focused on immigration and business help.

How They Responded Later

After the event, Hilton replied to Becerra’s jokes with a statement:

• "Xavier Becerra’s silly jokes and insults won’t lower anyone’s gas prices or housing costs."
• He said California needs a governor for "positive, practical change," not a "36-year career politician" who thinks everything is fine.

Other leaders like Newsom and Senator Alex Padilla also spoke at the conference about inclusion and immigrant safety.

Summary

Two people racing to be California’s next governor — Democrat Becerra and Republican Hilton — spoke at a Latino leaders conference in L.A. Becerra painted Hilton as a Trump follower and joked about his taco moment, while Hilton shared his immigrant roots and promised to help small businesses. Becerra led the primary, but Hilton faces an uphill battle with fewer Republican voters. Their speeches showed the big themes for November: attacks on Trump, immigrant rights, and cost of living.

FAQ

Q: What is a gubernatorial hopeful?
A: It’s just a fancy way to say someone who wants to be elected governor (the leader of a state).

Q: Why does Hilton have a harder time winning?
A: Because only about 1 in 4 voters in California are Republican, so he has fewer natural supporters than a Democrat.

Q: What is a "primary"?
A: It’s an early vote where each political team picks their one person to represent them in the big final election.

Q: What was the taco joke about?
A: Hilton filmed himself eating a Del Taco and called it a "street taco"; Becerra said real street tacos come from street carts, not established restaurants.

Q: Did the candidates agree on anything?
A: Not really — Becerra attacked and Hilton ignored the attacks, focusing on his own story and business help.