索菲·奥斯汀、迈克尔·R·布拉德 洛杉矶——加利福尼亚州州长候选人将于周二在本次竞选唯一一场预定的辩论中面对面交锋，这也为共和党人史蒂夫·希尔顿缩小与民主党人哈维尔·贝塞拉的差距提供了他职业生涯中或许是最好的机会。
SOPHIE AUSTIN, MICHAEL R. BLOOD LOS ANGELES — The candidates for California governor will meet face to face Tuesday in the only scheduled debate of the campaign, giving Republican Steve Hilton perhaps his best chance of gaining ground on Democrat Xavier Becerra .
这场在CNN举行的持续一小时的对决，恰好发生在邮寄选票预计开始送达选民家中、以为11月3日的大选做准备的前几天之际。为了接替即将卸任的民主党籍州长加文·纽森，希尔顿正在向那些他所说的渴望改变的选民发出呼吁，在这样一个以生活成本高昂、税赋沉重以及长期无法解决的无家可归者危机而闻名的州，这些选民正急需变革。
The hourlong matchup on CNN comes just days before mail ballots are expected to begin arriving at homes in advance of the Nov. 3 general election. Looking to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hilton is appealing to voters who he says are desperate for change in a state known for its punishing cost of living, high taxes and long-running homeless crisis.
贝塞拉则承诺要降低家庭生活成本，同时继续抵制唐纳德·特朗普总统的议程。
Becerra is promising to bring down household costs, too, while continuing to push back against President Donald Trump’s agenda.
加州大学伯克利分校政府研究所9月份进行的一项民意调查显示，贝塞拉对希尔顿保持着相当大的领先优势。自2006年以来，共和党人就再未在民主党势力雄厚的加州赢得过全州范围的选举。
A September poll conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies found that Becerra had a sizable lead over Hilton. A Republican has not won a statewide election in heavily Democratic California since 2006.
希尔顿获得了特朗普的背书，但在总统支持率下滑、选民对不断攀升的汽油和食品价格怨声载道之际，这可能会成为一种政治包袱。特朗普与倾向左翼的加州长期关系紧张，他在三次竞选白宫的过程中都在该州遭遇惨败。
Hilton has Trump’s endorsement, but that could be a liability at a time when the president’s popularity has been sliding while voters grouse over climbing gas and grocery prices. Trump has had a long-strained relationship with left-leaning California, where he was trounced in his three runs for the White House.
这两位竞争对手是从一场混乱的初选中脱颖而出的。此前，前民主党联邦众议员埃里克·斯沃韦尔在被指控曾两次性侵一名女性（其中包括一名曾为他工作的女性）后宣布退出竞选，随后又宣布将辞去国会议员职务；而亿万富翁汤姆·斯泰尔则在争取民主党提名的失利竞选中，开展了全美耗资最巨的政治广告宣传。
The two rivals emerged from a chaotic primary that saw former Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell exit the race — then announce he would leave Congress — following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him, while billionaire Tom Steyer ran the most expensive political advertising campaign in the country in a losing effort to win the Democratic nomination.
希尔顿誓言要将汽油价格降至每加仑3美元，约为目前价格的一半；将居民的水电费账单削减一半（目前该州的公用事业费用居全美最高之列）；并对前15万美元的收入免征州所得税。
Hilton has vowed to bring down the price of gasoline to $3 a gallon, about half the current cost, cut residents’ utility bills in half, now among the nation’s highest, and eliminate state income taxes on the first $150,000 in earnings.
贝塞拉在努力掌控该州政府的过程中，不断提及自己丰富的政府工作经验。他在州和联邦政府机构任职超过35年，曾担任美国众议院领导职务、加利福尼亚州司法部长，以及前总统乔·拜登的卫生部长。他常说：“州长办公室可不是一个需要‘辅助轮’（即需要他人帮助才能顺利工作的地方”（也就是说，州长办公室的工作职责非常复杂，需要具备丰富的经验和能力才能胜任）。
Becerra has been leaning into his long resume in government as he maneuvers to take charge of the state. He spent more than 35 years in state and federal office, including leadership roles in the U.S. House, as California’s attorney general , and as former President Joe Biden’s health secretary . “The governor’s office is not a place with training wheels,” he likes to say.