California’s gubernatorial candidates hurled verbal punches at each other on Tuesday evening in their first televised debate, as Republicans hope for a miracle at the ballot box in November.

Democrat Xavier Becerra faced off against Republican Steve Hilton this week for what will likely be the pair’s only debate before the Nov. 3 election. Their face-off, just days before voters begin receiving their ballots by mail, comes as polling indicates Beccera holds a massive lead, signaling a steep obstacle course for Hilton’s ambitions to become California’s first Republican governor since 2011.