Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading the race for California governor as votes continue to be counted, with both candidates poised to advance to the general election.
With votes still being counted, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are in prime positions to secure the two spots in California’s upcoming gubernatorial election. The race is to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in steering the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.
As of early Wednesday morning, Hilton, a former British political strategist turned American conservative commentator and ex-Fox News Channel host, was backed by former President Donald Trump. Becerra, a former California attorney general who later served as a Cabinet secretary in President Biden’s administration, was also leading in the unofficial early returns.
“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton told supporters during his primary night watch party in Orange County. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital following his speech, he emphasized the importance of communicating “honest, simple truths” to voters. “Everything is too expensive in California. We’re going to cut people’s costs,” he pledged.
Becerra, if elected in November, would make history as California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco briefly served in 1875. He expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating that his campaign’s success is “more than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That’s the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable. And I couldn’t have done it without you.”
California’s unique jungle primary system allows all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to appear on the same ballot, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election. As the results continued to be tabulated, billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, who has invested over $200 million of his own money into his campaign, was in third place. More than $80 million in outside funding has also been spent on the race.
Other notable candidates include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, along with Democratic contenders such as former Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. A total of 61 candidates appeared on the ballot.
Hilton aims to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election in 2006. During his speech, he showcased the lining of his blazer, adorned with American and California flags, which he claimed Schwarzenegger encouraged him to wear. “Arnold, I did that for you,” Hilton remarked.
In the lead-up to the election, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Alex Padilla considered launching their own gubernatorial bids but ultimately decided against it. This decision resulted in a lack of a clear frontrunner for the Democratic Party for the first time in over 25 years.
The race has been overshadowed in the past year by significant events, including the devastation caused by wildfires in the Los Angeles area and President Trump’s immigration raids, which dominated headlines across California. However, the gubernatorial contest gained attention earlier this year when prominent candidate Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, which he continues to deny. His exit opened the door for both Steyer and Becerra to rise in the polls.
Bianco, who launched his campaign for governor in April of last year, was initially among the top contenders until Trump’s endorsement of Hilton in early April appeared to stifle his momentum.
As the counting of votes continues, the race for California governor remains highly competitive, with both Hilton and Becerra poised to make history in their respective bids.
According to Fox News, the final results are still pending as ballots are being tallied.