California’s gubernatorial race featured a single head-to-head debate Wednesday night between Democratic front-runner Xavier Becerra and Republican challenger Steve Hilton, offering voters a clear contrast ahead of the November election. The hourlong event, held at CNN’s studio in Burbank, was moderated by Dana Bash and Jake Tapper and touched on issues including education, health care, immigration, and artificial intelligence.

Although neither Governor Gavin Newsom nor former President Donald Trump appeared at the debate, both were frequently mentioned by the candidates, who used the figures as proxies for broader political choices facing California voters. Becerra, a Democrat, repeatedly linked Hilton, a former Fox talk show host, to Trump, emphasizing that Hilton had secured the president’s endorsement despite Trump’s unpopularity in the state. Becerra used this association as a central line of attack throughout the debate, underscoring that Hilton’s positions aligned closely with Trump policies.

Hilton pushed back against this framing, criticizing Becerra and the Democratic establishment for perpetuating California’s ongoing issues with homelessness and high living costs. Positioning himself as a candidate of change, Hilton accused the state’s Democrats of complacency and suggested that Becerra’s campaign relied too heavily on party affiliation rather than substantive solutions. “Aren’t you tired of that?” Hilton asked voters, urging them to consider alternatives after 16 years of Democratic gubernatorial leadership.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a prominent topic amid growing national concerns about the technology’s impact. Hilton expressed cautious support for regulation, advocating oversight of AI companies to ensure compliance with safety policies and endorsing a ban on AI use in classrooms. Becerra challenged Hilton’s approach as inconsistent, highlighting doubts about the federal government’s ability to hold tech firms accountable. Neither candidate addressed Hilton’s personal ties to the tech sector through his wife, who has held senior positions at Google and an AI startup.

Immigration also sparked a tense exchange, particularly with Hilton’s focus on enforcing existing state cooperation with federal authorities to address criminal cases. As a British immigrant himself, Hilton stressed the need to protect legal immigrant communities while enforcing the law. Becerra, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, accused Hilton of favoring immigrants who resembled himself while supporting deportations of others, a comment Hilton denounced as politicized and divisive.

The debate underscored contrasting campaign styles as well. Newsom, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, drew attention the same evening by signing his final bill as governor atop the Golden Gate Bridge—a signature spectacle illustrative of his flamboyant approach. In contrast, Becerra’s demeanor throughout the debate was measured and deliberate, signaling a potentially different leadership style if elected.

In the heavily Democratic state, Becerra has maintained a consistent lead in polls, placing the onus on Hilton to persuade voters to shift away from the status quo. The CNN event was the only scheduled debate between the candidates during the fall campaign, leaving many voters to weigh their choices based on this direct confrontation and ongoing political narratives tied to California’s broader challenges.