From L to R: Steve Hilton, Sec. Xavier Becerra, candidates for CA State Governor

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton criticized Xavier Becerra over remarks about Black Americans during a recent radio interview, arguing that Becerra’s response overlooked concerns about housing, education and the rising cost of living.

In an Oct. 19 statement, Hilton condemned Becerra’s comments during an interview on KBLA Talk 1580 with host Tavis Smiley. Asked what he would do for Black voters, Becerra said he would not “promise you 40 acres and a mule” before citing cash bail reform as an example of his commitment.

Hilton called the response condescending and said it reflected a narrow understanding of Black Californians’ priorities.

“Instead of talking about expanding homeownership, improving schools, or lowering the cost of living, Becerra’s first concrete example was bail reform,” Hilton said.

Hilton contrasted Becerra’s answer with his own policy priorities, which include streamlining housing construction, expanding vocational and career pathways, and addressing affordability challenges that he said have driven working families out of California.

He argued that Black Californians deserve policies that expand economic opportunities rather than what he described as symbolic gestures and recycled political talking points.

Seneca Scott, an Oakland activist and host of the Gotham Oakland podcast, also criticized Becerra’s remarks. Scott recently joined Hilton at a town hall in San Jose.

In a post on X, Scott said Becerra delivered the comment as a punchline and questioned the results of Democratic leadership in California. He cited concerns about schools, neighborhood conditions, homelessness and family stability.

Hilton’s campaign said the candidate has prioritized outreach to Black communities, pointing to a recent interview with the Los Angeles-based newspaper OurWeekly. The campaign also said Black Californians consistently rank economic opportunity, quality schools, safe neighborhoods and the cost of living among their leading concerns.

“Black Californians deserve better than symbolic gestures and recycled talking points,” said Hilton. “They deserve a governor who will actually expand opportunity—not one who treats their aspirations as a political box to check.”

Hilton has discussed his vision for California in previous appearances with Smiley and attended KBLA’s recent “California Voices: A Political Town Hall and Ballot Forum,” according to his campaign.

The campaign’s statement did not include a response from Becerra to Hilton’s criticism or the full context of the radio interview.