Steve Hilton has turned a reported White House insult into a political weapon. The Republican gubernatorial candidate created a website called “Bitch–ass Becerra” and used the nickname to attack his Democratic rival throughout the state’s only scheduled debate, held Wednesday night on CNN.
The nickname traces back to Susan Rice, a former Biden administration official who reportedly called Becerra “bitch-ass” and “idiot.” Rice’s spokesperson denied the reporting about her relationship with Becerra and Kamala Harris. Now Hilton is using the term to paint Becerra as unfit for office.
The Debate’s Opening Salvo
The CNN debate kicked off with Hilton invoking the nickname to frame his attacks on Becerra’s record. He repeatedly questioned whether Becerra was qualified to hold the office he seeks.
Hilton’s prior statement to The Post captured the approach: “California needs to wake up before it’s too late and we put the world’s fourth largest economy in the hands of a complete idiot.”
The debate was the state’s only scheduled showdown between the two candidates.
Rice’s Reported Record
According to reports, Rice called Becerra “bitch-ass” and “idiot” during their time in the Biden administration. Rice berated Becerra during migrant crisis meetings “at least once a week,” according to an ex-Biden official cited by The Post.
An ex-official described Becerra as having “dead-fish eyes” during a meeting on migrant children in detention centers. Another official quoted in The Post’s latest report said: “No emotion. No response. Nothing there.”
The Post also reported that an ex-Biden official told The Post: “I do not think he is qualified to be the governor,” and “I don’t think he’s qualified to be the boss of anything.”
Becerra’s Campaign Fires Back
Becerra’s campaign struck back quickly. Spokesperson Jonathan Underland dismissed the criticism as “jealousy.” The campaign also called the migrant children remark allegation “an outright fabrication.”
The response shows how seriously Becerra takes the attacks. His team is treating the nickname as a direct threat to his campaign.
The Website’s Message
The “Bitch–ass Becerra” website pushes a familiar conservative message. Its slogan reads: “Chaos. Fraud. Child trafficking. Gender extremism. Higher costs for you.”
The page depicts Becerra in a jacket covered with corporate and union logos, including Chevron, PG&E, and the California Teachers Association.
The website’s design is a blunt instrument. It presents Becerra as a man whose decisions hurt everyday Californians.
The Migrant Children Allegation
The ex-official’s description of Becerra’s demeanor during meetings on detained migrant children paints a picture of a leader who does not respond.
The Post’s reporting on the allegation is based on anonymous sources. Becerra’s campaign has denied the criticism.
The contrast between the two narratives is stark. Hilton’s version of Becerra is unqualified and ineffective. Becerra’s version is a man targeted by a hostile colleague.
Other Attacks on Becerra
Former Biden official Xochitl Hinojosa criticized Becerra in a CNN appearance in May, saying: “I don’t think that he will be able to stand up to Trump and lead” and “He was not effective in governing. He was not an effective HHS secretary.”
Hinojosa’s comments add to the pile of criticism Becerra faces from within his own party. The pattern is consistent: colleagues who worked with him question his judgment.
The Social Media Incident
Becerra faced another test of composure during an interview with The San Francisco Standard. Interviewer Sophia Garrow repeatedly used “David” instead of Daniel Lurie’s name, and Becerra did not correct her.
His replies were brief and non-committal: “Growing,” “He’s done a number of important things, amazing things.”
The incident shows a candidate who is uncomfortable with confrontation. Hilton has seized on that weakness throughout the campaign.
Where the Race Stands
Recent polling shows Becerra leading. A PPIC poll had Becerra at 60% to Hilton’s 38%.
The debate gave Hilton a chance to close that gap. Whether the nickname sticks will depend on whether voters see it as a fair assessment or a cheap shot.
| Position | Key Attack | |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton | Turn the nickname into a campaign attack | “Bitch–ass Becerra” website |
| Becerra | Defend his record and qualifications | Call the migrant children remark an “outright fabrication” |
What This Means for the Race
Hilton is betting that the nickname will stick. By creating the website and repeating the insult, he is trying to make it part of the conversation.
Becerra’s campaign is fighting back. The fight is just beginning.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs neither side’s use of the insult as politics, and instead backs narrow rules against hiding safety failures and disclosure requirements so voters can judge candidates’ fitness for office. The insult, however crude, is a matter for voters to weigh, not a reason to let a candidate hide his record behind a campaign website.
What matters here is not the name but the claims beneath it: that Becerra was unqualified, ineffective, and unresponsive in office. Those are serious charges, and the paper backs disclosure requirements so voters can judge them. It opposes letting either campaign hide its own record under the cover of personal insult.
The reader should watch for whether the attacks are backed by named witnesses or remain anonymous allegations. The paper wants candidates judged on their record, not on nicknames.
Source material: “Xavier Becerra brutally dubbed ‘b-ass’ by Steve Hilton as gubernatorial campaign kicks off with fiery CNN debate,” the New York Post.
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