Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton meet Wednesday night in the first and so far only scheduled debate of the California governor’s race.

Recent polls show Becerra with a commanding lead, buoyed in part by President Donald Trump’s deep unpopularity in the state. The debate, hosted by CNN at 6 p.m. Pacific time, offers Hilton a rare chance to attempt to level the playing field. For Becerra, it’s an opportunity to drive home Hilton’s Trump endorsement and cast himself as a seasoned, sensible leader.

Here’s where the race stands headed into the debate.

Becerra has a large lead in polls and an edge in fundraising

A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released last week found Becerra with a 25% edge over Hilton among 4,512 likely voters, leading 58% to Hilton’s 33%. The same poll found 27% of Californians approve of Trump’s job performance compared to 72% who disapprove, marking the president’s lowest marks in either of his terms. IGS wrote that Trump’s approval rating slipped 7% among Republicans from a year ago.

Another poll from Public Policy Institute of California released in mid-September found Becerra leading by 22%.

On the fundraising front, Becerra raised $12.1 million from July 1 through Sept. 19, roughly $3 million more than Hilton’s total during the period.

The Democrat has $7.6 million cash on hand as of Sept. 19, compared to nearly $2.7 million in Hilton’s coffers. That gives Becerra a big advantage in a huge state like California, where campaigns need to invest heavily in expensive TV markets to reach voters.

How the campaigns have gone so far

Becerra kept a low profile over the summer, making few public appearances. That’s changed somewhat since Labor Day as he’s held more press and community events. Much of the focus has been on passing Proposition 1, a housing bond, and speaking out against Proposition 39, a measure that would require government-issued ID to cast a ballot.

Becerra has avoided making sweeping policy announcements, saying in August that he preferred to avoid making “inflated promises.” He did float the idea of a “power hour” where low-income Californians could use free electricity for a couple of hours a day while the grid is oversupplied with solar energy.

Hilton, by contrast, has aimed to be everywhere all at once, with a constant drumbeat of big policy ideas: abolishing the DMV, extending family leave, and repealing climate mandates and breaking up PG&E, among many others. Hilton’s critics argue even if he manages an upset, he’ll lack the political power to enact such a sweeping vision in a Legislature run by Democrats.

Hilton has also repeatedly attacked Becerra’s handling of child migrants as U.S. secretary of health and human services under former President Joe Biden. A 2023 Pulitzer-winning New York Times investigation found thousands of children were trafficked into dangerous jobs during Becerra’s tenure, but the Democrat has denied wrongdoing, blaming employers for taking advantage of the migrants.

Where to watch the debate

The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and will air live at 6 p.m. PDT on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and the network’s streaming service.

It will occur just before California voters begin receiving ballots in the mail. California counties will begin mailing voters ballots no later than Oct. 5.

While Hilton has pressed for more debates, Becerra’s campaign has yet to agree to more events. The two men repeatedly jousted during the crowded primary, when they shared the stage with as many as six other candidates.

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