Republican underdog Steve Hilton is touting a newly scheduled debate on CNN against highly favored Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra as proof that his campaign is gaining traction.

The one-hour debate is scheduled for 6 p.m., PT, on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the event, which is planned in the Los Angeles area.

““After months in hiding, Becerra’s agreed to debate. I wonder what changed,” Hilton said in a post on X.

After months in hiding, Becerra’s agreed to debate.

I wonder what changed…

Hilton vs. Becerra: September 30 on CNN. pic.twitter.com/DtPKplNFBf

— Steve Hilton (@SteveHiltonx) September 8, 2026

Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, said earlier in the campaign that he wanted to debate Becerra six times. Becerra, a longtime mainstream Democrat who has served in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.,  previously said that “we’ll be doing lots of debates.”

However, this is the only one on the books.

The debate will take place about a week before early voting begins in the Nov. 3 general election.

To say that the Becerra camp is confident that their candidate will do well in the debate might be an understatement.

“If debates reward substance, it’s going to be a rough night for Trump’s lapdog — an empty British blazer running on fantasies and cable-news catchphrases,” Becerra campaign spokesman Jonathan Underland told Politico. “At least he’ll be wearing shoes.”

Hilton Commissioned Poll Shows Race Narrowing

A poll conducted on behalf of Hilton’s campaign indicated that he is narrowing the gap against Becerra in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom.

David Wolfson, a pollster and faculty member in Columbia University’s Political Analytics graduate program, conducted the survey Aug. 14-18. The text message poll showed Becerra leading Hilton, 49.2% to 41%.

The poll also found 32.9% of respondents not fully committed to their choice or undecided. The poll included a sample of 912 registered California voters. Its margin of error was plus-or-minus 3.3%.

Comparing the Polls

The results are markedly different from those of a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll poll conducted Aug. 3-9. That online poll of likely November voters indicated a commanding 55% to 37% lead for Becerra. The poll had a plus-or-minus margin of error of 2.5%.

Going back to the first major poll conducted after the June primary by the Public Policy Institute of California, Becerra led Hilton, 63% to 35%.