California’s political heavyweights took to the campaign trail Saturday as early voting began, making their final appeals before Election Day while offering sharply different solutions to the state’s affordability and public safety challenges.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Hilton brought his tax-cut message to the Inland Empire, promising to reduce costs for working families after what he described as 16 years of one-party rule.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass unveiled utility-bill relief for residents under financial strain, while her challenger, Nithya Raman, called for an audit of the city’s water and power department.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra did not campaign in person Saturday after spending the week outlining a tougher strategy on homelessness and demanding greater accountability from nonprofits that receive state funding.
Here is where the leading candidates stand as California voters begin casting ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Steve Hilton: Tax cuts, cheaper gas and a carbon-market crackdown
Hilton was scheduled to headline a Saturday rally at Silverlakes Park in Norco alongside lieutenant governor candidate Gloria Romero, controller candidate Herb Morgan and Rep. Ken Calvert.
The Inland Empire event was designed to energize voters in a region where affordability, public safety and rising living costs remain top concerns.
Hilton has pledged to exempt the first $150,000 of income from taxation, halve electricity bills, lower gas prices to $3 per gallon and eliminate the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Earlier in the week, he also promised to suspend California’s carbon market, dismissing it as “a disaster of a program.”
His homelessness plan calls for large recovery centers and clearing encampments when people decline shelter. During an appearance on HBO’s Overtime with Bill Maher, Hilton also defended his views on artificial intelligence safety and expanding nuclear power.
Xavier Becerra: Tough talk on homelessness as poll shows commanding lead
Becerra, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, did not appear at a campaign event Saturday but spent the week pressing for a more forceful response to California’s homelessness crisis.
On Monday, Oct. 19, he presented a plan focused on preventing homelessness and pledged to penalize nonprofits that receive state funding without producing results.
“If you got money and you didn’t do anything, we’ll have to close you down,” Becerra said.
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An Emerson College Polling survey released Wednesday put Becerra ahead of Hilton, 60% to 33%, among registered voters.
On Saturday, Becerra launched a digital and grassroots campaign urging supporters to get ready to vote before Election Day.
Karen Bass: Utility relief, transit expansion and emergency response
Bass announced an emergency relief plan for the Department of Water and Power on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The measure pauses residential utility shutoffs through the end of 2026 and allows residents facing financial hardship to temporarily pay what they can afford.
The announcement comes as the incumbent confronts growing criticism over higher utility bills and the broader cost of living in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Bass joined officials at the groundbreaking for a $414 million Metro expansion along Vermont Avenue. On Friday, she joined City Council members to launch Los Angeles’ first Unified Call Center for Unarmed Crisis Response.
Bass also signed a directive intended to accelerate the hiring of 911 dispatchers.
Nithya Raman: Utility audit, key endorsement and debate damage control
Raman, who is challenging Bass in the mayoral race, proposed a three-part audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Monday, alleging that utility bills had risen 40% under the incumbent.
She picked up an endorsement Tuesday from Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, but also spent the week trying to contain fallout from her description of former LAPD Chief Daryl Gates’ era as the “gold standard” for non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Raman made private apology calls and conducted media interviews to address criticism from Black community leaders.
Early voting opens across California
California voters can cast ballots in person beginning 10 days before Election Day in counties participating in the Voter’s Choice Act. Those voters can also drop off mail-in ballots, register to vote or update their voter information at designated vote centers.
Participating counties include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Alameda, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Ventura and others across the state.
With voting underway, candidates are taking their competing promises directly to Californians as the Nov. 3 election approaches.