California’s political leaders fanned out across the state Saturday as early voting began, making their final appeals before Election Day and offering sharply different solutions to affordability, homelessness and public safety concerns.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Hilton brought his tax-cut message to the Inland Empire, pledging to reduce expenses for working families after what he described as 16 years of one-party rule.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced new utility-bill relief for struggling residents, while her challenger, Nithya Raman, called for an audit of the city’s water and power department.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra did not campaign in person Saturday. Instead, he spent the week promoting a more aggressive response to homelessness and greater accountability for nonprofits that receive state funding.
Here is where the leading candidates stand as Californians begin voting 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 rally was aimed at turning out Inland Empire voters, where the cost of living, affordability and public safety rank among the dominant campaign issues.
Hilton has proposed making the first $150,000 of income tax-free, cutting electricity bills by half, lowering gasoline prices to $3 per gallon and eliminating the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Earlier in the week, he also pledged 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 did not appear at a campaign event Saturday, but used the past week to advance his case for a tougher strategy to address California’s homelessness crisis.
On Monday, Oct. 19, he presented a plan focused on preventing homelessness and promised to penalize nonprofits that accept 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 found Becerra ahead of Hilton by a 60% to 33% margin 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 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The measure pauses residential utility shutoffs through the end of 2026 and permits residents facing financial hardship to make temporary payments based on what they can afford.
The announcement comes as the incumbent mayor faces mounting criticism over rising utility costs and broader affordability pressures in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Bass attended the groundbreaking of a $414 million Metro expansion along Vermont Avenue. Two days later, she joined City Council members to introduce Los Angeles’ first Unified Call Center for Unarmed Crisis Response.
Bass also signed a directive designed to accelerate the hiring of 911 dispatchers.
Nithya Raman: Utility audit, key endorsement and debate damage control
Raman, who is challenging Bass for mayor, proposed a three-part audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Monday, arguing that utility bills had risen 40% during Bass’s tenure.
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.
