Xavier
Becerra

KMPH reported, citing the campaigns' most recent Form 460 filings, that Becerra's campaign had spent approximately $26.05 million and Hilton's approximately $21.52 million through the most recent reporting period.

Steve Hilton took part in a Los Angeles Times/LAist town hall in Los Angeles covering housing, homelessness, climate change, and the federal government. Becerra's campaign said the schedule did not work and no later date was arranged. Hilton criticized Becerra for not attending.

Counties across California began mailing general-election vote-by-mail ballots on October 5, marking the start of the final voting period ahead of the November 3 general election.

A poll commissioned by Hilton's campaign and conducted October 1–2 showed a much narrower margin than independent polls: Becerra at 45.7%, Hilton at 40.1%, with 14.1% undecided. The campaign-commissioned nature of the poll distinguishes it from independent September surveys.

Becerra and Hilton debated on CNN in Burbank in their only scheduled general-election debate. They sparred over affordability, taxes, housing, immigration, homelessness, education, vaccines, and AI. Becerra repeatedly linked Hilton to President Trump; Hilton criticized Becerra and Democratic leadership over California's problems.

The candidates met in their only scheduled CNN debate before Election Day, debating affordability, immigration, housing, taxes, and artificial intelligence. Hilton said he would cap government fees and regulations on a new California home at $50,000.

During the CNN debate, Becerra said California needed to 'at least double the rate of building a month' on housing, and on homelessness declared, 'We will make sure the encampments are cleared.'

Becerra raised $12.1 million from July 1 through September 19, nearly $3 million more than Hilton in the same period. Overall campaign contributions were reported at about $29.75 million, with more than $14 million raised by a supporting independent-expenditure group.

Becerra's campaign announced it was returning a $39,200 contribution from the Fund for Economic Independence, a group that does not disclose its donors. Campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland said: 'We couldn't make sense of why they'd want to give to us, so we sent it back.'

A September profile noted that Becerra had maintained a relatively low public profile after the primary and had made fewer detailed policy commitments than some rivals. This was the outlet's characterization, not a campaign statement.

A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted September 15–20 put Becerra at 58% and Hilton at 33% among likely voters, a 25-point lead. The poll surveyed 4,512 likely voters with a ±2-point margin of error.

CalMatters reported that Becerra had received endorsements from both the California Labor Federation and the California Chamber of Commerce, even as he and those groups differed over AI regulation.

The Public Policy Institute of California reported Becerra leading Hilton 60% to 38% among likely voters. The poll was conducted September 4–10.

Becerra joined labor and Democratic leaders in opposing Proposition 39, a voter-ID ballot measure. He co-chaired and fundraised for the effort alongside Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.

California's Secretary of State certified the primary results, with the finalized candidate list reported as of August 27, officially setting up the Becerra-Hilton general election contest.

Xavier Becerra finished first in the state's top-two primary with 28% of the vote. Republican Steve Hilton placed second with 24.6%, sending both to the November general election.