BECCERA, HILTON DEBATE: TRUMP LIVES RENT-FREE IN DEMS' HEADS!

It seems even in 2026, the California Democratic Party's campaign strategy remains stuck in 2020, judging by the recent gubernatorial debate between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton. While Noozhawk dutifully reported that President Trump somehow stole the show – an impressive feat for a man not even on the ballot – what they *really* mean is that Becerra and his progressive pals couldn't string together a single policy point without conjuring the specter of Mar-a-Lago's most famous resident. Frankly, if you're a California Democrat and you're not talking about Trump, are you even campaigning?

One might think that facing a competent, articulate conservative like Steve Hilton would force a more substantive discussion from the left. Instead, it appears the DNC's talking points memo still revolves around 'Trump bad, Trump very, very bad,' a narrative that's now older than some of California's unfunded pension liabilities. Meanwhile, voters are grappling with sky-high gas prices (thanks, Sacramento green mandates!), rampant homelessness, and a state budget that looks like a progressive's Christmas list written on a blank check. But hey, at least they’re consistent.

Here’s the angle nobody else printed: the 'Trump as main character' narrative isn't an accident. It's a calculated distraction. While Becerra's team is busy rehearsing their latest 'Orange Man Bad' soliloquy, they conveniently gloss over their own party's disastrous track record in the Golden State. It's easier to blame the President for every ill, real or imagined, than to admit that decades of one-party rule have turned California into a case study in progressive failure. Maybe if they spent less time talking about D.C. and more time fixing California, they might actually have a policy to debate.