2026 California Governor Race breakdown: Becerra vs. Hilton on taxes, housing and homelessness, and the 14 propositions

Californians choosing between Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton for governor are picking between two very different plans. Hilton, the Republican, promises $3 gas, half-price electric bills and no state income tax on the first $150,000 anyone earns. Becerra, the Democrat, promises an emergency order to speed up housing, a shield against federal Medi-Cal cuts and the continuation of the 2012 tax rates on high earners.

They agree on less than their shared opposition to the billionaire tax might suggest. Both men have published positions on six of the 14 propositions on the November 3 ballot. They take the same side on one of them.

This guide sets their plans side by side, issue by issue. It draws on Becerra's campaign priorities, Hilton's plan and policy library, the candidates' September 30 debate on CNN and each man's list of how he is voting on the propositions. Everything here is a campaign's own claim unless it says otherwise. For the June primary results, the money and every other statewide race, see our 2026 California candidates master guide.

The winner takes office on January 4, 2027. Ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and reach the county by November 10.

2026 California candidates master guide: All 24 candidates on the November 3 ballot

California's November 3 ballot carries 12 statewide races and 24 candidates, from Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton for governor to four Board of Equalization seats. This guide covers each race's finalists, June results, money, endorsements and polls.

California TodayMac Douglass | Editor

Becerra and Hilton on 10 issues, side by side:

The table summarizes each candidate's main proposal on the issues both have addressed. The sections below give the detail and the sources.

Becerra and Hilton agree on one proposition, the Proposition 40 billionaire tax:

Becerra's campaign announced his ballot positions on July 31. He is voting yes on Propositions 1, 2, 3 and 37 and no on Propositions 39 and 40. Hilton posted his completed ballot on X on the evening of October 19. He marked no on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 37, 40 and 44 and yes on 38, 39, 41, 42 and 43. His post skips Proposition 45, the CEQA fast-track measure.

That leaves six measures where both men have taken a side. They split on five:

• Proposition 1, the $11.25 billion housing bond: Becerra yes, Hilton no.
• Proposition 2, the rainy-day fund increase: Becerra yes, Hilton no.
• Proposition 3, the "millionaire tax": Becerra yes, Hilton no.
• Proposition 37, the homebuyer loan program: Becerra yes, Hilton no.
• Proposition 39, voter ID: Becerra no, Hilton yes.

The one they share is no on Proposition 40, the one-time billionaire tax. The California Democratic Party endorses Proposition 40, which puts its nominee for governor on the other side.

Hilton's yes votes on Propositions 41, 42 and 43 each add limits on new taxes. Becerra's campaign list does not mention those three or Propositions 4, 5, 38, 44 and 45.

How Becerra and Hilton are voting on California's 14 propositions:

2026 California propositions master guide: All 14 measures on the November 3 ballot

California's November 3, 2026 ballot carries 14 propositions, from an $11.25 billion housing bond to a one-time billionaire tax. This guide covers each measure's rules, its cost according to the Legislative Analyst, who is funding both sides, and where the polls stand as ballots arrive.

California TodayMac Douglass | Editor

Hilton would exempt the first $150,000 of income from state tax, while Becerra backs Proposition 3:

Hilton's plan says he will "eliminate state income tax on the first $150,000 you earn so families can keep more of their own money." The plan page gives no cost estimate or replacement revenue source. He would also "abolish the annual $800 small business tax." That is the $800 annual tax every LLC doing business or organized in California pays, and the $800 minimum franchise tax owed by corporations, according to the Franchise Tax Board.

Becerra's affordability page makes no income-tax proposal. It pledges to take on "price gouging and unjustified rate hikes" and to expand help with child care. His tax positions show up on the ballot instead. He supports Proposition 3, which would make the 2012 top income-tax rates permanent, and he opposes Proposition 40.

The two clashed over Hilton's plan at the debate. Becerra called the $150,000 exemption a Trump tax policy, CNN reported. Hilton answered:

"The quickest way to get more money in people's pockets is for the government to take less out."
Steve Hilton, CNN debate, September 30, 2026

On the billionaire tax, Becerra told the debate audience that billionaires are "not paying their fair share" but that the one-time tax "is not the way to do tax policy." Hilton said it would drive tax revenue out of the state.

Hilton promises $3 gas and half-price electric bills, and Becerra promises tighter utility oversight:

Hilton's plan blames high gas prices on "special fuel rules, fees, taxes and anti-energy policies" and says he will "unwind those policies, support in-state energy production and get gas prices back down." California gas came within 4.4 cents of its 2022 record this month, as our gas price report found. His plan does not say how a $3.00 price would be reached.

For electricity, Hilton's PG&E plan has three parts:

1. Repeal climate mandates "through appointments and Executive Orders," including the rules that keep large hydro from counting as clean energy.
2. "Break up PG&E's monopoly."
3. Expand locally owned utilities and decentralized energy.

Becerra's energy page says "bill affordability will be at the center of my energy policy, especially for low- and middle-income families." It calls for stronger oversight of utilities and for treating clean energy and grid resilience as public investments. It sets no target for bills and does not name PG&E.

Becerra and Hilton both promise faster approvals and more starter homes:

Becerra's housing plan starts with an executive order "declaring California's housing shortage a state of emergency." A delivery team in the governor's office would first target "the nearly 40,000 affordable housing units sitting in approved projects across California." Projects seeking state review would get a final answer on a set timeline, with 180 days given as the example. The plan also promises more down payment assistance and zoning changes to make townhomes and small condos easier to build. On the ballot, he backs the Proposition 1 housing bond and the Proposition 37 homebuyer loans.

Hilton's starter-home plan focuses on cost. It would:

• reduce or defer fees for entry-level homes and size fees to the home;
• end state income tax on profits from qualifying starter-home construction;
• fast-track starter-home projects, with a Governor's Housing Expediter to unblock stalled approvals;
• impose "a five-year freeze on new housing regulations."

The plan also proposes a state-backed Starter Home Loan Program for first-time buyers, structured as "a deferred second loan, repaid upon sale or refinance." Proposition 37, which Hilton is voting against, would create a state second-mortgage program for homebuyers. Hilton's version would be tied to newly built starter homes.

Hilton sets a 2027 deadline to clear every encampment, and Becerra ties homelessness money to results:

Hilton's homelessness plan promises that "every homeless encampment will be cleared by the end of 2027." It would build a statewide network of Homeless Recovery Centers modelled on Sunbreak Ranch, a project proposed for San Diego County, with treatment, beds and job training. He would give every mayor a public deadline, with Labor Day 2027 as the last one, and the state would step in where cities fail. He would declare a health and safety emergency to waive state construction requirements, seek a full exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act and back local camping bans.

Becerra's homelessness page does not mention encampments. At the debate, he said he would clear encampments and address mental health and addiction, CNN reported. His written plan promises to "build thousands of treatment beds" and to tie every dollar to results: "Programs that fail will be defunded; programs that work will be scaled." State grants would require 12-month housing-retention results, and the state would publish per-unit cost dashboards for every program it funds.

Becerra would shield Medi-Cal from federal cuts, and Hilton would give some enrollees health accounts:

Becerra's health-care plan opens with a Day One executive order to "maintain coverage continuity for every Californian affected by federal cuts or Medi-Cal rollbacks." The federal changes include Medi-Cal work requirements that start on January 1, 2027, as our Medi-Cal dates guide explains. He would also:

• expand CalRx, the state's own drug label, to insulin, inhalers, EpiPens, naloxone and antibiotics;
• charge a fee to large employers that do not offer coverage to low-wage workers who end up on Medi-Cal;
• create a health-care fraud task force.

Hilton's Working Class Healthcare Guarantee takes the opposite approach to Medi-Cal. For working-age adults who are not seniors or disabled, California would seek federal approval for "personal healthcare accounts containing approximately $8,000 to $10,000 a year." The plan says California "should implement" the federal work requirement. For people who buy their own coverage, he would apply for a federal waiver to fund a reinsurance program. He would also require hospitals and clinics to post real prices and join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Both men propose a dedicated health-care fraud unit. They split on vaccines at the debate. Becerra warned of what happens "when vaccine-deniers take over." Hilton said he is "pro-vaccine" and suggested that fewer school requirements would raise compliance with the most important vaccines, according to CNN's account.

Hilton has a home insurance plan, while Becerra's wildfire plan focuses on prevention:

Hilton's insurance plan says the FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, now covers "over 650,000 households." He would:

1. Move low- and moderate-risk homeowners off the FAIR Plan and back into standard policies.
2. "Make the existing 60-day timeline under Proposition 103 a real requirement" for rate approvals.
3. Require disclosure of third-party financing behind lawsuits.

Becerra's wildfire plan mentions insurance once. It says "as we cut fire risk, we bring down your insurance bills." Its proposals are a statewide wildfire-risk plan, direct help for low-income homeowners to fireproof, one statewide alert standard and a permanent fund to help homeowners meet state home-safety rules. Neither plan names the insurance commissioner, who regulates rates. That race, between Democrats Jane Kim and Ben Allen, is covered in our candidates guide. Hilton's ballot post shows him voting for Allen.

Becerra wants audits of state AI, and Hilton wants a pause on AI in classrooms:

Becerra's AI plan promises that "every AI system deployed by a state agency will be subject to an independent audit." It puts child safety at the center of state AI policy and says data centers should "cover the costs of their own energy needs." He would fully fund CalCompute, the public computing cluster created by the state's 2025 frontier AI law.

Hilton's AI plan says government should "avoid sweeping, preemptive regulation on evolving technologies." It names three bills as threats: AB 1979 on AI in health care, SB 420 on "algorithmic discrimination" and SB 813, which would create an AI regulatory commission. It would meet AI's power demand with existing natural gas capacity and, over time, more nuclear power. At the debate, Hilton called for "an immediate pause" on AI technology in classrooms, CNN reported.

Hilton would replace the capped film credit with an uncapped 40% incentive:

California's film and television tax credit is capped at $750 million a year through June 30, 2030, according to the California Film Commission. Recent awards under it include $30.8 million for the Michael Jackson biopic sequel.

Hilton's Bring Hollywood Home plan would replace the cap with "an uncapped, open system" based on "a 40 percent incentive rate." It floats a temporary 50% "California Kickstart" rate for five years and widens eligibility to commercials, reality TV, animation and video games. A studio package would add a five-year sales-tax exemption for studio upgrades and 30-day decisions on routine studio permits.

Becerra's film plan says the existing program "must be defended first" and expanded where the return justifies it. He would convene a California Entertainment Summit and push Congress for a federal production subsidy. At the debate he set the test plainly:

"If we give a tax credit, so long as we get more than $1 back for that $1 in tax credit, we're going to do it because Hollywood belongs here."
Xavier Becerra, CNN debate, September 30, 2026

Hilton promises reading by third grade, while Becerra defends teachers and transitional kindergarten:

Neither campaign has an education page on the scale of its other plans. Hilton's plan promises that every student reads by third grade and that every school offers skills training. At the debate, he said California spends "nearly the highest amount in the entire country for some of the worst results" and called for phonics and teacher accountability, CNN reported. He said Becerra is "sponsored by the teacher unions."

Becerra answered that teachers "are underpaid compared to professionals with similar education levels." He pointed to transitional kindergarten and to tutoring so students are at grade level before they move on, and he blamed too many compliance requirements for the schools' problems.

Becerra says he sued Trump 122 times, and Trump has endorsed Hilton:

President Donald Trump hangs over the race. Becerra's campaign says he sued Trump "122 times in fact as California's Attorney General" and promises to challenge new federal actions in court. Trump endorsed Hilton in April, the Associated Press reported.

At the debate, Becerra said Trump's name at least 40 times, by CNN's count. Hilton said it three times, each time to complain that Trump is all Becerra talks about. Hilton named Gavin Newsom at least eight times and argued that Becerra would continue Newsom's record. On immigration, Hilton said he would follow the law when asked whether state law enforcement should cooperate with federal deportations. Becerra criticized the treatment of immigrants by federal agents.

Becerra leads Hilton by 18 to 27 points in four polls since August:

Becerra has led every public poll of likely voters since August, from 55% to 37% in Berkeley IGS's August survey to 60% to 33% in Emerson College's October 17–19 poll. In PPIC's September survey, 65% of likely voters said a candidate's plans on the cost of living were "very important" to their vote.

Outside money is one-sided too. A committee supporting Becerra has received $14,050,000 from its top 10 donors, while a committee opposing Hilton has received $2,500,000, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission's top-contributor list as of October 26. No committee supporting Hilton or opposing Becerra appears on that list. The candidates guide breaks down each campaign's own fundraising.

California's governor race between Becerra and Hilton ends on November 3:

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Mailed ballots count if they are postmarked by Election Day and reach the county elections office by November 10. Counties report results from 8 p.m. that night, and the Secretary of State certifies the final count on December 11.

The winner is sworn in on January 4, 2027, the Monday after January 1 under Article V, section 2 of the state Constitution. The first test of either man's plan will be the budget. The Constitution requires the governor to submit a budget "within the first 10 days of each calendar year," so the new governor's 2027–28 plan is due by January 10, six days after taking office.

Positions are as published by each campaign and read on October 27, 2026. This guide will be updated if either candidate changes a position or a new public poll is released before November 3.