The upcoming California gubernatorial race will see Republican Steve Hilton challenge Democrat Xavier Becerra, highlighting contrasting visions for the state’s future.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — This fall, California will witness a significant gubernatorial race between a Democrat aiming to reinforce the state’s liberal policies and a Republican determined to shift its political landscape.
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator endorsed by President Donald Trump, has secured enough votes to advance to the general election, as confirmed by The Associated Press on Tuesday. He will face off against Democrat Xavier Becerra, who previously served as the state attorney general and health secretary under President Joe Biden.
The victor will succeed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, leading a state of approximately 39 million residents, known for its entertainment industry, thriving tech sector, and extensive agricultural land that contributes significantly to the nation’s food supply. California stands as one of the largest economies globally.
The next governor will confront persistent challenges, including a high cost of living, housing shortages, and homelessness.
In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans, Hilton is banking on voter dissatisfaction to break a two-decade trend of Democrats holding statewide office. The last Republican to win such a position was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who completed his second term in 2006. Hilton presents himself as an outsider who promises change after years of one-party governance.
“If you’re happy with the way that California is being run, Xavier Becerra is your guy,” Hilton stated in a recent interview. “If you want change, vote for me.”
However, Hilton faces an uphill battle, as registered Republicans comprise only about 25% of the electorate, compared to 45% for Democrats. While Trump’s endorsement may have bolstered Hilton’s support among GOP voters during the primary, it could also pose a challenge in the general election.
Becerra has positioned himself as a key figure in the state’s resistance to Trump’s policies during the former president’s initial years in office. Appointed attorney general by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2017, Becerra initiated over 120 legal actions against the federal government.
In his campaign, Becerra emphasizes his commitment to countering Trump’s actions, which have included attempts to undermine California’s environmental policies, restrict wildfire recovery aid, and challenge state regulations supporting transgender student-athletes.
“Donald Trump is doubling down on decline and counting on people being too fearful, distracted, or gullible to fight back,” Becerra declared on primary night. “As governor, I will never back down from the threats of small cowards in big offices.”
Determining the general election matchup took nearly a week due to California’s notoriously slow vote-counting process. Ballots are mailed to all eligible voters, and those postmarked by Election Day must arrive at election offices within seven days to be counted. Counties process mail ballots in the order they are received, meaning the last ballots returned are counted last.
The AP confirmed on Friday that Becerra had garnered enough votes to advance to November. Hilton was competing for the second spot against Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund manager and climate activist who invested $215 million of his own money into the campaign and saturated the airwaves with advertisements.
Steyer consistently narrowed the gap with Hilton in the days following the June 2 Election Day, but he was unable to fully close it. The AP determined that Hilton would advance to the general election after concluding there were not enough outstanding votes for Steyer to surpass him.
Election data indicated that many Democratic voters held onto their ballots until the final days of the election, which likely contributed to Steyer’s stronger performance in the later counts.
Steyer conceded on Tuesday, urging his supporters to back Becerra. “It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not,” he stated.
Affordability emerged as a central theme throughout the primary campaign. Hilton proposed exempting Californians’ first $100,000 from income tax, establishing a loan program for first-time homebuyers, and freezing in-state tuition at public colleges. In contrast, Becerra pledged to declare states of emergency to tackle high energy costs and housing shortages, as well as to freeze home insurance rates.
Interestingly, both candidates share immigrant backgrounds. Hilton moved to California from the United Kingdom in 2012 and became a citizen in 2021. Prior to his political career, he advised Conservative Party officials, including former Prime Minister David Cameron.
Hilton has humorously acknowledged his British accent, likening himself to the Austria-born Schwarzenegger. “I know that some of you may be watching and saying, ‘Who is this guy with a funny accent?’” he remarked on election night. “Well, you know there was actually an immigrant who was governor of California not that long ago.”
Becerra, born to Mexican immigrant parents in Sacramento, also draws on his family’s story as a reflection of his “underdog” campaign for governor. “Like my parents, I never gave up,” he told supporters on election night. “I never stopped believing in the beaconlike goodness of California. And thankfully, neither did you.”
If elected, Becerra would become the state’s first Latino governor since the late 1800s.
According to The Associated Press, the race is set to be a pivotal moment for California as both candidates present starkly different visions for the state’s future.