California gubernatorial candidates pounce on Becerra at debate

The Hill reports that during Tuesday's California gubernatorial debate, multiple candidates attacked Xavier Becerra, the former HHS Secretary, reflecting his emergence as the race's frontrunner to replace term-limited Governor Newsom. The race has been reshaped by Democrat Eric Swalwell's recent withdrawal from the field. The reporting is sourced from a major national outlet with a named byline, and corroborating coverage from the LA Times, Guardian, and NBC Los Angeles confirms the debate occurred and identifies the same key candidates (Becerra, Steve Hilton, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter) and themes (housing, immigration, Trump). The description lacks specificity about what attacks were leveled or which candidates led them, limiting substantive depth; readers cannot discern the debate's actual substance from the metadata alone. Watch for how Becerra responds to the criticism and whether his frontrunner status holds as the race continues.